Relief for sports people

Sports minister Nathi Mthethwa, left, pictured here with Vukani sports editor, Fuad Esack.

There’s some good news for sportsmen and women, following an announcement by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa of measures and a relief fund of R150 million being set up to assist artists, athletes, technical personnel and their support structures.

The ministry said the criteria for accessing this support, the identification of beneficiaries and the mechanism through which the relief fund will be managed has now been finalised in consultation with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) for the different sectors.

This means that athletes who were confirmed to participate at events that have now been cancelled or postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and whose income is generated solely through specific sporting events, will be eligible for relief.

They must provide proof that their events have been cancelled and their taxes must be in order.

Coaches and technical support personnel must work with athletes whose sporting events have been cancelled or postponed due to Covid-19, and make their earnings solely from these events. They too must have their tax matters in order. Relief will only be availed to athletes, coaches, or technical support personnel after the date on which the cancelled or postponed event would have been held.

Excluded from the above relief framework are, athletes, coaches and technical personnel who do not rely solely on income earned from participating at sport events

Call Masechaba Ndlovu, spokesperson for the minister, on 082 858 4415 for more information.