Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation response to the untruths contained in the DA statement about the Gauteng Sport Awards and the relief to artists and athletes*
25 January 2022
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation notes yet again that the DA opts to spend its time engaging in gossip instead of being productive. Whilst appreciating that the opposition by its nature; does little else but to find fault in the governing party. We had hoped that such criticism would be constructive and based on facts instead of being dependent on gossip. Below are facts to dispute the gossip of lies.
LIE: Claim the Department has not spent on COVID relief for artists and athletes and should have used the alleged R7mil towards relief.
- FACT: The Department has to date spent R19,6mil on COVID relief, of which close to 3000 artists and athletes have benefited. Gauteng was further congratulated by Minister Mthethwa for being the number one province in providing the largest amount for relief, accounting for 44% of the National count. Followed by the Western Cape where the DA governs, who account for only 11%. It's therefore laughable that the DA claims to care about artists and athletes yet where it governs it does not place its spend on the very artists and athletes.
LIE: Claim that the Department spent R7mil for the Gauteng Sport Awards.