SA govt considering reopening applications for creative sector relief fund

Mthethwa was speaking at a televised press conference, which provided an update on the adjudication process for the relief fund announced in March.

The announcement follows a departmental revelation that more than 600 applications out of 1 050 adjudicated requests from the arts and culture sector were unsuccessful. About 5 000 submissions were received in total. Applicants who have not received a response will be notified when the adjudication is completed.

Most of the rejected applications did not meet the requirements as stipulated in the application criteria. The reasons for non-compliance include missing documents, documents attached but not properly completed or filled in, and lack of proof of cancellation of events such as a letter or contract indicating the event, among others. Other applications were unsuccessful in instances where the indicated events were postponed and not cancelled.

About 232 applications were recommended for grants and 203 were referred back to the department for reassessment or further action. The value of each grant will be determined individually and based on financial need with a maximum ceiling of R20 000 ($1 000). An appeal application can be made based on the submission outcome.

Mthethwa said the large number of requests that were rejected was a major concern for the department. The majority of the unsuccessful applications came from historically disadvantaged communities. These were individuals hit the hardest by the pandemic and who desperately needed assistance, he said.

Mthethwa also indicated that a number of people could not access the funding due to the short notice that was given to submit applications. This was also aggravated by lockdown restrictions and access to ICT services.

Mthethwa said the department was in discussions with representative organisations such as the Cultural and Creative Industry Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) and the Independent Music Performance Rights Association (IMPRA) to make the application process smoother as was the case of various federations in the sports sector.

Sporting federations have identified athletes requiring financial assistance. About 291 athletes have been approved including those with physical disabilities, in sporting codes such as surfing, netball, golf and fencing.

Additionally, Mthethwa briefly discussed the regulations around live streaming in terms of the Disaster Management Act, which include temporary measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. These regulations are intended to promote consumption of local content, guide the creative sector, such as film and TV, and promote the use of narratives in support of COVID-19 prevention.