DCAS publishes 2 more lists of COVID-19 relief fund beneficiaries

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DCAS) has released two additional lists containing the names of artists and actors who received financial support from its COVID-19 relief fund. 

Between 2020 and 2021, the department allocated nearly R90 million to support creatives in its second and third waves of fund allocation.

Earlier this week, the department published the first list of artists, in which more than R72 million was paid out in the same period.

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The lists were published after newly-appointed Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie instructed the department to make public the names of beneficiaries.

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the department allocated a total of R160 million rand to support creatives who suffered financial losses due to lockdown restrictions.

The first group of artists received funding ranging from R10,000 to R75,000. The second cohort received R10,000 each, and R6,000 was sent to the last group.

While McKenzie said that making the lists public was an act of transparency, there are suggestions that his actions had brought public shame to artists who were left vulnerable during the lockdown.

McKenzie is, however, unapologetic, revealing he had instructed the department to publish additional lists with the names of artists who were also funded.