Question NW688 to the Minister of Arts and Culture

Share this page:

12 May 2020 - NW688

Profile picture: Mhlongo, Mr TW

Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Arts and Culture

(1) With reference to the declaration by the President of the Republic, Mr M C Ramaphosa, that COVID-19 has been declared a National Disaster and the subsequent funding amount of R150 million that was allocated from his department's budget towards all artists, athletes and technical personnel who qualify, what number of applications have been received since the closing date of 6 April 2020; (2) what is the breakdown of the different categories of (a) artists, (b) athletes and (c) technical personnel who have applied for financial aid; (3) whether he has found that more sportsmen than sportswomen have applied for financial aid; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether he has found that his department has communicated its message across all sectors by using pamphlets and advertisements, thereby reaching all artists and athletes, as well as ordinary sportsmen and sportswomen at grassroots level; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply:

1. The Department received a total number of 6 088 emails in response to the Relief Fund and upon pre-screening of all emails the actual Relief Fund Applications came to 4011. The independent panel of adjudicators is currently processing all Arts and Culture applications. The Sports applications have been completed. From the Sport sector there were 323 applications.

2. (a) (b) (c) The call for the Relief Fund applications was categorised into the following:

  • Individuals (artists and athletes)
  • Companies
  • Digital Solution Proposals:

We can only be able to provide a breakdown upon completion of adjudication processes.

3. There were more male applicants than female applicants. There were 239 males and 84 females.

4. The Department used the following platforms to communicate the message to the public:

(a) The Minister made a formal statement at a media briefing on 25 March 2020 where members of the Command Council updated the media on initiatives in their sectors. Thereafter, the Department issued a media statement on the relief fund

(b) .Following the issuing of the media statement, the Minister was interviewed on various television and radio stations. The statement was also picked-up by SowetanLive, Citizen, News24 (Sport24), and the Star newspapers on the 30th March 2020.

(c) The Department engaged organised formations in the Arts and Sports sector such as SASCOC, CCIFSA as the umbrella formations for the two sectors. Communication was sent as per an instruction letter to Sports Federations to advise their members to apply and also indicate their responsibilities in the process.

(d) Furthermore, the Department made a public call in Electronic media to announce the COVID-19 Relief Fund for athletes and creatives through media statements and interviews.

(e) The Department also issued an A-Z guide for applications and this was uploaded on all Departmental digital platforms, shared with provinces and organised formations in arts and sport.

(f) To ensure that the message of the Relief Fund extend beyond urban areas, the Department through the Minister’s Office consulted with all MEC’s and HOD’s of all Provinces on the Relief Fund.

(g) The Minister the Director-General and other officials were interviewed on radio and television to articulate the details of the relief fund.

Source file