Johannesburg – The NAC welcomes the creative and cultural sector to another PESP Industry Briefing. This webinar provides weekly updates on the progress made in respect of the disbursement of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) funds and how funds are distributed. This follows the previous briefing session, which was held on Friday, the 30th of April 2021.
The NAC received an allocation of R300 million, of which R285 million was to be distributed for PESP funding. As of today, the following milestones have been achieved:
- The NAC announced a total of 1 331 applicants that were approved for the PESP grant.
- To date, a total of R206 838 971.60 has been paid to 1 288 beneficiaries, which is a combination of 70% of the grant value (the first tranche) or the full grant amounts payable to beneficiaries.
- This means that the NAC has now disbursed 97% of the first payments due to the total value (R285 million), in accordance with the PESP agreement between the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the NAC.
- As of this afternoon, the first tranche payments due comprises: 16 applicants made up of 8 contracts still to be sent to beneficiaries on receipt of the revised required information and 8 contracts sent but not yet received back from beneficiaries.
- The balance of the second tranche/final payments will be paid in various intervals following receipt of required reporting.
- By the close of business today, 8 returned contracts will be processed for payment, which is a further R 495 456.50. This will bring the total number of paid beneficiaries to 1 296, approximating to R 207 334 428.10.
- The anticipated number of work opportunities retained and created by contracts returned now stands at just under 26 000.
We can confirm that as of today, there are only 16 beneficiaries who have not submitted their documents and who, unfortunately, stand to forfeit their grants. Beneficiaries with outstanding documentation or contracts not yet returned were notified of the deadline.
Many beneficiaries who have received their first tranche payments have, or are, in the process of submitting their interim reports. Reporting is now open on the GMS portal for all beneficiaries who have received payment. Beneficiaries are required to submit their reports around the timelines stated in their contractual agreements. Beneficiaries can view the requirements and guidelines for reporting on our website here: http://www.nac.org.za/funding-news/pesp-reporting-requirements-and-guidelines/
The submission of the interim reports, which needs to indicate the project activities and provide proof of expenditure, must be followed by the submission of the final report, which will indicate the remaining activities and expenditure to complete the project. Final reports will be accessible to all beneficiaries on the GMS portal upon approval of the interim report. Once final reports are submitted, the second (final) tranche payment will be processed. All projects need to be completed by the 31st of May 2021
Beneficiaries whose outcomes are outstanding forms part of the declined applications. The GMS has been updated to indicate that such applications have been declined. This will be followed up by declined letters to each applicant.
We are pleased to see that many beneficiaries have already started to implement their innovative and creative projects which are reviving the creative and heritage sectors. Beneficiaries are encouraged to share their posters with us on our social media pages and via email at communications@nac.org.za.
It has been two months since the sit-in group took over the NAC’s offices and they have since evacuated our offices over the past weekend.
This Council remains fully committed to successfully completing the PESP process to ensure that the PESP funds reach all beneficiaries so that they can retain and create the much-needed work opportunities in our industry.
ENDS…
For Media Enquiries: Council Spokesperson, Clr. Tshepo Mashiane – 072 037 3358
