Officials work non-stop to get relief funds out

A total of 517 applications was received for the Covid-19 Relief Fund, announced the culture, sport and recreation MEC, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, during the recent tabling of the department’s budget vote to the Mpumalanga Legislature.

“After the cut-off date, a total of 517 applications was received.

“They are currently being adjudicated with a team that includes outside stakeholders such as National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Mpumalanga Sports Confederation (MSC), Creative Workers Union of South Africa (Cwusa) and Creative

Industries Federation of South Africa (CCFISA) to ensure that qualifying applicants are paid in due course.”

At the beginning of June, the department invited people in the cultural, creative and sport sectors to apply for the Covid-19 Relief Fund as a way of mitigating the effects of the virus on athletes and artists. After the closing date on June 5, the department appointed committees comprising of departmental, NYDA, CCFISA, Cwusa and MSC officials to process the applications.

The Covid-19 Relief Fund is aimed at offering financial support to Mpumalanga citizens who make a living from cultural, creative and sport sectors and are unable to do so because of the national state of disaster.

According to the MEC, the department has set aside R5,5 million to accomplish this task.

The Covid-19 Relief

Fund is aimed at offering financial support to Mpumalanga citizens