Payment of funds from the R200 million (€10m) Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) have not yet been paid, due to the court case logged by trade union Solidarity and its civil rights associate, AfriForum.

South African Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, highlighted this at the Department of Tourism webinar held earlier today (April 29). The webinar focused on ‘The State of the Tourism Sector’ and featured CEO of SA Tourism, Sisa Ntshona and the Minister.

“We have received more than 10 000 applications for the relief fund and, unfortunately, none of the funds have been paid to applicants because of the court case,” said Kubayi-Ngubane. “We took the decision to take directive from the court and we are awaiting judgement. We are unable to move forward until the matter is resolved with the courts.”

She said she expected judgement on this matter soon.

Solidarity and AfriForum are opposing the TRF on the basis that the criteria exclude a wide number of small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) beneficiaries on the basis of race. The broad-based black economic empowerment score has been applied to the criteria.

The Minister acknowledged comments from webinar participants that the R200 million earmarked for relief fund was not enough. “We are aware that not only is this money not enough but that the maximum grant amount of R50 000 (€2 522) is also not enough for some businesses to survive the impact of the pandemic on the industry,” said Kubayi-Ngubane.

“Unfortunately, I am not in a positon to speak with the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, on the next phase of the relief fund due to the fact that none of the funds from phase one have been dispersed.”