03 Aug 2020
Statement by Minister Nathi
Mthethwa on Mitigation Plans to Minimise the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on
the Sport, Arts and Culture Sector
Honourable Minister Mthembu,
Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation,
The Deputy Minister of Sport,
Arts and Culture, Ms Nocawe Mafu,
The Director General of the
Department, Mr. Vusumuzi Mkhize.
Members of the Media,
Dear Compatriots,
We have gathered here this
afternoon on the 3rd day of the month of August. The
month of August is observed in the South African Government calendar as the
period where the country commemorates Women’s day and Women’s month. The
2020 commemoration events will be held under the theme “Realising
women’s rights for an equal future”. Women’s Month 2020 takes
place in the context of the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and Gender-based
Violence and Femicide (GBVF), which have underlined the urgent need to more
decisively deal with the legacy of structural oppression to accelerate the
transformation of society. This includes the transformation of unequal power
relations between women and men and addressing gender oppression, patriarchy,
sexism, racism, ageism and to create an environment which enables women to take
full control of their lives, reach their full potential and contribute to the
country’s development.
Since our last interaction with
the nation, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has worked tirelessly to
ensure that relief reaches as many practitioners as possible. As
the first wave of relief draws to an end, we deem it necessary to come and
account to the sector and the nation as a whole. Indeed, it was never an
easy journey; we all chartered for the first time as a country in this rocky
terrain. I would also touch on some critical lessons derived out of this
experience.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF FIRST
WAVE OF COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING
Based on the set criteria, the
Department received a total number of 5 322 applications in
the categories of Sport, Digital, as well as Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Through the adjudication and appeals processes 4 602 applications
were then recommended; a total of 1 570 was not
recommended. Some of the reasons shared by the adjudication panels for
not recommending applications vary from applicant to applicant and these
include the following;
- In the Sport sector it was confirmed that some of
the athletes have other sources of income such as employment and/ or a
business, while others could not be confirmed as national athletes,
coaches or technical personnel.
- Other practitioners, particularly in the arts and
culture sector had no indication of cancelled or postponed events, or
generally did not fall within the set criteria.
- Incomplete or incorrect forms were used; some
didn’t use the form but just wrote in the body of the email without
providing detailed information that would be required in the form
- For digital, other applications were not innovative
ideas; they did not respond to the 4th Industrial
Revolution; that is, provided ideas which did not respond to the COVID-19
environment and regulations.
- We also had applicants who were not compliant with
Tax, especially companies.
- It is important to note that a Monitoring team was
set up and the team was able to recover over 1, 000 outstanding
applications in the spam emails, hence the spike in the number of
successful applications.
There are currently 117 outstanding
applications being finalised by the Department. To date, the total
of R61 million has been disbursed to
beneficiaries.
In terms of the Demographics
and classification of those who benefited, the findings were as follows:
Blacks = 1979 (57%)
Whites = 1483 (43%)
It is also important to note is that
our Provincial Offices are at different stages of implementing their Provincial
Reliefs as announced in our last briefing. Their efforts will further
assist in widening our reach.
SECOND WAVE OF COVID-19 RELIEF
FUNDING
In conceptualising the second wave
of relief, the Department listened to the plight of practitioners. The
Department further conducted a number of consultations with those who were
involved in the process of administering relief, including amongst others,
sector organisations, panellists and our national entities. The second
wave, will therefore take into account the shortcomings, and experiences of the
first rollout, categorised as follows;
- The period for the call for applications to be at
least 14 days to allow athletes and practitioners sufficient time to make
use of the opportunity.
- The application form to indicate demographics, i.e.
disability, gender, race, age, province and at least, district.
- The application form to have personal details as
per ID document, no nicknames, etc.
- All applications must be completed online including
the uploading of supporting documents (The model to be used will be
outlined later, here-below)
- Eliminate the criterion of cancelled or postponed events, as it would not be feasible or appropriate for the next phase.
Other considerations per
sector;
Sport
- All applications would have to be submitted through
the National Federations.
- There would be two deadlines with the first
deadline dealing with submitting of applications to the National
Federations which would be of no consequence in terms of the acceptability
of the application to the Department.
- There would be a second and non-negotiable deadline
by which all National Federation will have to submit all their received
applications to the central portal.
- Note that, National Federations would be the first
stage of quality assurance and verification of information. A checklist
will be provided to them.
Arts, Culture and Heritage
- There would be collaboration with provincial
governments to assist in the collation of databases for qualifying
creatives at local level.
- The outlined criteria would apply to all applicants
from various levels of practice (professional/amateur and community
practitioners).
- There would be a clear articulation that the relief
is meant for individuals and the application forms would be designed as
such.
- Available statistics and databases for the creative
sector would be harnessed where there are deficiencies. (Information on
jobs, employment, contribution to the GDP, existing
organizations/companies, skills, skills shortages, training institutions,
etc).
The Criteria of those who can
apply will be the following:
Sport
The relief would be available to
athletes, coaches and technical support personnel on events-based income.
To qualify for the Sport
Relief the following will be considered:
-
Athletes, coaches and technical support personnel who rely solely on income
generated from participating in sport competitions / events.
-
Applications must provide proof of having earned income from national and
international competitions in the past.
-
Possible consideration to be given to personal trainers who operate as
freelancers; unemployed and not operating as small businesses
Exclusions for Sport
- Athletes, coaches and technical personnel who do
not rely solely on the income earned from participating in sporting
events; this includes athletes, coaches and technical personnel with other
sources of income.
- Athletes on fixed-term contracts
-
These athletes are catered for in terms of contracts entered into with either
the federations or clubs
-
Typically, the athletes earn salaries or wages
Arts, Culture and Heritage
- The relief would be available for individuals
in the Arts, Culture and Heritage Sector/Cultural and Creative Industries.
The categories to be provided with relief will apply only to:
-
Performance and celebrations
-
Visual Arts and Craft, and
-
Audio-visual and interactive media
Broken down as follows:
Performing arts: covering
creative and performing artists, dancers and choreographers, entertainers
(comedians), poets, actors, film directors.
Music: musicians
(principal artists and backing musicians); singers (principal artists and
backing singers; sound recording (engineers and producers).
Festivals and events: stage
managers, live sound engineers, lighting technicians, other technicians
(riggers, etc.).
Fine arts: covering
visual artists, sign writers, decorative painters, painting, drawing, ceramic
artists.
Photography: photographers
(film and performing arts).
Crafts: potters &
related workers, handicraft workers in wood, basketry, embroidery, crafts.
Audio-Visual & Interactive
Media: Film and video: film, stage & related directors &
producers.
Exclusions for arts, culture
and heritage
- Applicants who do not rely solely on the income
earned from participating in Art, Culture and Heritage activities.
- Arts, Culture and Heritage Practitioners on
fixed-term contracts may not apply.
- Companies/NPIs/NGOs, group applications (choirs,
bands, etc.). These will be catered for on the Presidential Employment
Stimulus Programme.
- Applicants who benefitted in the first cycle
of the DSAC Relief Fund or its provincial counterparts.
- Support sectors such as catering, transport and
accommodation will not be catered for.
Eligibility
- Preference will be given to South African
citizens
- Applicants must provide proof of having
earned income through Arts, Culture and Heritage Activities (provide
contracts/invoices/bank statement/municipal trading permits) in the 12
months period ending on February 2020.
- Practitioners will need to prove their
applicability in the sector through provision of their profiles/portfolio
of work/ academic achievements in the sector and/ or reference from other
prominent practitioners who have been in the field for 10 years or
more.
Who will be eligible for this
relief?
- Practitioners/Individuals who rely solely on income
generated from participating in Sports, Arts, Culture and Heritage
Activities, as above.
- Practitioners/Individuals who are dependent on
gigs, are freelancers and independent contractors; and on sport
activities.
Practitioners will be required to
submit compliance documents such as a valid thirteen (13) digit South African
Identity document, and proof of income earned through their works in the
sector; signed contracts, bank statement, municipal trading permits, and so
forth. A valid tax clearance certificate or tax number for those
practitioners who have been exempted from paying tax.
Duration of the relief:
The relief will cover a period of
three months, September to November 2020.
Proposed amount of relief:
The relief amount is set at R2
200,00 using the rationale of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) rate
structure of R95-R100 per day.
BUDGET PROVISIONS
To date, R61 million has
been disbursed to beneficiaries, the Department has taken into consideration
the commitments for the unpaid beneficiaries in the first phase, estimated
at R34 million. For the second phase, the amount that is allocated
for Relief is R77 million. Of which R11 million is
been ring-fenced for contribution towards the partnership with the Department
of Small Business Development. If the entire amount is to be paid
specifically towards beneficiaries and no other costs are considered, the
allocation will cover a total of 11 666 practitioners
(athletes and artists) base on the following estimates;
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The Department has partnered with
Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and have agreed to jointly set
aside R 22 million to respond to a plea from the Cultural & Creative
Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) for the Craft, Design and Visual
Arts sectors towards relief amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)
will be entered into on how the funds will be administered. A criteria and
appointment of adjudication panel is currently being finalised. The relevant
industry bodies will be consulted for their expertise. Hopefully by end of
August the process of distribution will commence
SOLIDARITY FUND
Solidarity Fund has made
available 10 000 food or cash vouchers of R700.00 to the department amounting
to R 7 000 000.00. The department will together with provinces develop a
list of beneficiaries that will receive vouchers. Beneficiaries will be
identified in both urban and rural areas. Those that are receiving social
grants and UIF will be excluded from benefiting. The vouchers will be
made available to the athletes, artist, freelancers and other eligible
practitioners. The vouchers will be distributed by channels identified by
Solidarity Fund. The department is currently in the process of finalizing the
MOU with Solidarity Fund.
INVOLVEMENT OF SECTOR
ORGANISATIONS
CCIFSA and other sector
organisations are a very critical stakeholder in the Arts, Culture and Heritage
Sector and will therefore be integral in the planning of the second phase of
Covid-19 Relief Funding. CCIFSA and other sector organisations would be given a
platform to outline their plans in supporting their members. This support
should incorporate, inter-alia:
- Capacity building and providing support to the
sector.
- Forging partnerships with other entities that
operate in the arts, culture and heritage space to ensure extended reach
and information dispensation.
- Working closely with the DSAC funding agencies to
leverage on their existing programmes and policies.
- Updating their database so that it reflects a
sector-wide footprint
DIRECTIONS IN THE OPENING OF
VENUES AND CONTACT SPORT
On the reopening of the sector,
we have to date undertaken the following process;
- We commenced with the process on the 6th of
July 2020 on which we announced the Directions regarding the reopening of
Sports Arts and Culture premises/venues. This was then published in the
Government Gazette 43507 by Government Notice 751.
- Guidelines expanded from the published Directions
for the premises that wished to open together with an online application
process was launched on the 14th July 2020 on the Department’s website
followed by a social media awareness communication.
- The process required the completion of an online
application, signing a declaration letter and uploading relevant documents
like: COVID-19 risk assessment and response plan; venue/visitor safety
guidelines; employee safety guidelines including the appointment of the
safety officer.
- By the 24th of July 2020 a total of 35 applications
were completed from four Provinces at an equivalent of 18 x Museums; 7 x
Cinemas; 5 x Theatres and 5 x Libraries.
- We then appointed an internal Technical Committee
for adjudication of all applications.
- The closing date was set for 31st July
2020, further 20 applications were received which are still to be
adjudicated.
- Adjudication of the first batch of applications has
been concluded. There are some venues that were contacted for questions of
clarity and more information. Responses should be received in the coming
week.
- I must indicate that the team didn’t receive any
applications from Galleries.
- We however sitting with the possibility of a
request for extension since the total numbers of applications is not a
true reflection of the venues we have in the country.
- From 11 June 2020, as part of the Government Level
3 Risk adjustment strategy the Minister gazetted Directions for the
resumption of sporting activities namely training or matches for non –
contact professional sport and for the resumption of training and
professional contact sport for training.
- The Directions required that sports bodies must
ensure they submit plans that indicate the measures they will put in place
before the resumption of activities. To date the Department received 75
major sports bodies and approximately 580 from clubs, those in the
business of sport, the fitness industry and also sport facilities and
recreational organisations.
- Of the plans that were assessed 46 sporting
bodies received approval to resume activities. Athletics South Africa
advised the Ministry that at this level, they will not be seeking approval
to resume activities as they have conducted their own assessment against
benchmarks and believe that it is not an appropriate stage to resume any
activity. An internal monitoring team has been on the ground and
monitored 11 of the PSL Football clubs who received permission to train.
All teams have taken all necessary measures to comply with the plans they
have submitted.
- We have also considered the return to play by
contact sport and we are pleased that.
- We are pleased that the Department of Health has
concurred with the proposal for Football to return to completing the
season behind closed doors in a Biologically Safe Environment which is
closed environment of the procured hotels, the transport hubs, training
grounds and stadiums. This is subject to the plans they have submitted and
all other protocols as outlined in the regulations and Directions
published by the Department.
- The compliance officers of both the South African
Football Association and the National Soccer League (PSL) will work
together and ensure that all measures comply with the commitment made by
the PSL in their submissions to Government.
- We are expecting to receive the Compliance
officer’s report from SAFA on the state of readiness for the NSL to resume
play.
In closing, I would like to thank
our athletes and our artists for exercising patience during these trying times,
not only with the Department by with Government in general. A special
appreciation to the Chairman of Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs Football
Clubs, Dr Irvin Khoza and Dr Kaizer Motaung, the Siya and Rachel Kolisi
Foundation, Hybrid Communications, Johnsyl Shuttle Services and Projects, the
football legends Mr Edward Motale and Mr Jerry Sikhosana, the Ladysmith Black
Mambazo, our private sector organisations, and many others who I might have not
mentioned here today, for landing a hand and providing food parcels to the most
vulnerable, needy, and destitute practitioners of our sectors, including the
Legends. And for also providing the most needed Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) to our frontline staff working in the health care sector.
Your efforts did not go unnoticed.
I thank you.
Media Enquiries:
Masechaba Khumalo: Spokesperson
(Minister)
Email: MasechabaK@dsac.gov.za
Mr Mickey Modisane: Chief
Director Marketing and Communications (Sport)
Email: MickeyM@dsac.gov.za
Ms Zimasa Velaphi: Chief Director
Marketing and Communications (Arts and Culture)
Email: ZimasaV@dsac.gov.za
