July 14 - The objective of most of the world's national lotteries are two
fold - one, to give the country's citizens the opportunity to win vast amounts
of money and two, to generate much-needed funds for charities and other good
causes. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case in South Africa.
And perhaps this is not surprising, as all too often the countries where
financial aid is most required, are the self same countries beset by corruption,
ineptitude and a general malaise when it comes to community upliftment and
financial responsibility. South Africa fits this mould almost too perfectly.
Since its launch many years ago, South Africa's National Lottery Distribution
Fund has never quite managed to keep up with the huge number of charities
and causes that have stood to benefit from much-needed funding generated by the
country's lucrative bi-weekly National Lottery draw.
In fact, even when new lottery operator, Gidani, took over the reigns of the
South African National Lottery in October last year, amidst promises of
improving the distribution of funds, little has changed. It seems that Gidani
too is incapable of efficiently processing funding applications and making
much-needed payments.
One of the areas of taking a big hit is South Africa's art, where crucial arts
institutions and organizations are being deprived of the necessary funding
needed so allow them to operate properly and efficiently, too enhance South
Africa's vast and varied cultural and artistic heritage.
This means that the South African film, theatre and art industries have taken a
'knock' in terms of being forced to cut back in terms of programs, jobs and thus
artistic output. This situation has also hampered any 'growth' in the arts
industry, and is threatening the future of many public arts institutions.
A report released by the National Lottery Distribution Fund in 2005 stated that
South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) received R36-million.
However, in reality, the foundation has to date not received a cent and, without
the funds, the NFVF has been unable to fully realize its mandate.
Said NFVF chief executive officer, Eddie Mbalo, 'We have gone from being able to
fund 26 films a year to just two or three. Films like Tsotsi were made possible
through our funding, but now we are unable to fund many more feature films.
'It is self evident that the National Lottery Distribution Fund is in complete
disarray and needs a much-needed revamp in terms of personnel and procedures.
When that is likely to happen, who knows,' he said.
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