For Immediate Release
5 March 2021
NAC Industry Update on PESP
Johannesburg – Following our previous industry briefing, where Council announced the commencement of processing payments to approved PESP applicants, we are pleased to confirm that the process as outlined on the 24th February 2021 is going ahead as planned.
Over the last seven days, Council has worked tirelessly in an effort to ensure it addresses all concerns raised, including rechecking approved applications for any duplications in an effort to expedite the finalization of contracting and processing of payments for all compliant applications.
This process has been completed and we can confirm that a total of 1,215 applications have been finalised, deemed compliant and approved. listed approved and compliant as. These beneficiaries will retain and create a total of 24,735 work opportunities through the PESP intervention introduced by the Presidency for the much needed relief to thousands of arts, culture and heritage practitioners who have been severely affected the Covid-19 pandemic.
Council will be publishing the full list of all beneficiaries of PESP, including amounts related to each applicant. This is to ensure an honest and transparent process is undertaken.
The NAC would like to request that upon receipt of the new or updated Grant Notification Letter (GNL), all beneficiaries should sign and return the GNL to the NAC for a contract to be issued. Council commits to effecting payment within 72 hours of receipt of the signed contract.
Council together with Management are confirming that NAC staff will be working around the clock (Including weekends) to ensure that all the 1215 applicants are processed and paid the first tranche by the 31st March 2021.
The completion of this program depends largely on the ability of the approved applicants to submit the required information and return the contracts with a heightened level of urgency, so as to avoid any further delays.
This Council remains fully committed to completing this process as soon as possible and to ensure that the PESP funds reach all the deserving and approved applicants so that projects retain and create the much-needed work opportunities without any further hindrance.
Furthermore, this Council’s resolve to continuously engage with the industry to solicit the counsel from all industry stakeholders, especially practitioners, on how best to work together moving forward to help improve the majority of lives within the arts, culture and heritage sector, remains our top priority.
The Council has equally set up communication mechanisms to allow the industry to engage with the Council, in between these industry briefings.
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Issued by the Council of the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC)
For All Media Enquiries: Tshepo Mashiane – Council Spokesperson (072 037 3358)