Applications open for KZN Sport and Recreation relief fund

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Hlengiwe Mavimbela, has announced the official opening of the application process for the Provincial Relief Fund for the sport and recreation sector.

The KZN Department of Sport and Recreation has set aside a budget of R7m to assist sport and recreation practitioners at provincial level who have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The application process will open from Wednesday, 13 May and closes at midnight on Friday, 29 May 2020.

“Sport and recreation practitioners that operate and reside in KwaZulu-Natal can, from Wednesday, 13/05/2020, submit applications to be considered for financial relief. This relief funding is meant for KZN athletes, coaches, managers, technical officials, fitness instructors as well as sport and recreation structures whose livelihood and sustainability has been adversely affected by the cancellation of sport events and programmes due to the national lockdown,” said MEC Mavimbela.

“In order to qualify, sport practitioners must not have benefited from the National Relief Fund and must provide proof of loss of income. A set criteria has been finalized and will be communicated to all stakeholders. Applications will be channeled through the KZN Sport Confederation, sport federations and recreation structures. Individual applications will also be considered.” MEC Mavimbela said applications will be assessed by an independent adjudication panel chaired by KZN Sport Confederation President, Mr Thami Mchunu, and will be subjected to an independent audit to ensure fairness and transparency. “We want to ensure that athletes and other affected individuals and organisations from rural areas also benefit from this funding.” “We are aware that the National fund was not able to assist everyone, hence in the Province we have reprioritized some of our budgets to ensure that assistance is extended to those affected in all 11 Districts in the Province. We will be working closely with the National Department to ensure that there is no duplication in the applications,” says MEC Mavimbela.

The Criteria to qualify for funding is as follows:

• Confirmation of the financial impact per sport federation, structure, recreation entity etc.
• Validation of any incurred loss that is being claimed.
• Use of previous events to qualify loss in income.
• Proof of loss of income for individuals such as coaches, aerobics and fitness instructors etc. and that their livelihoods solely depends on the earnings from these events.
• Evidence that athletes who were confirmed to participate at events that have now been cancelled due to COVID-19, and whose income is generated solely by participation in these events.
• Coaches and technical support personnel who work with athletes whose sporting events have been cancelled due to COVID-19, and make their earnings solely from these events and /or support of the athletes.
• Athletes on the Department’s Elite Athlete Development Programme who are preparing for the 2021 Olympics & Paralympics and are hopefuls for selection for South Africa for those and other major International Championships and events. These athletes must not be on SASCOC’s OPEX Programme.

How to apply:

1. Application forms are available from the KZN Sport Confederation, sport federations or recreation structures as well as KZN Department of Sport and Recreation District Offices.
2. Or download and print manual application forms from the Department website, www.kzndsr.gov.za.
3. Email completed application forms together with requisite documents to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or drop them off at Department’s District offices or through sport federations and recreation bodies.
4. Applicants can also complete the electronic application form through the link: https://rsvp.kzndsr.gov.za

Forms:

1. COVID-19 Relief Application Form
2. COVID-19 Relief Fund for KwaZulu-Natal Sport And Recreation Sector Application Criteria
   

Electronic application form: https://rsvp.kzndsr.gov.za