The Editor

The Herald

First Physical Theatre Company and the NLDTF

The article in The Herald of 16 June 2006 has reference.

The National Lotteries Board is disturbed at the way in which many beneficiaries of National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund are becoming more and more dependent on lottery funding and in so doing are drastically reducing or stopping other fundraising drives. Inasmuch as the NLDTF has been set up to assist non-profit bodies to continue their work within their communities, funding from the NLDTF should not been seen as the only source of funding.

The NLDTF has been the major funder of the First Physical Theatre Company, which has received payments from the NLDTF since 2002 as follows:

January 2002:             R  50,000.00

June 2003:                  R150,000.00

February 2004:            R300,000.00

June 2004:                  R150,000.00

April 2005:                   R150,000.00

April 2005:                   R300,000.00

August 2005:               R300,000.00

April 2006:                   R300,000.00

The First Physical theatre Company has further been allocated an amount of R390,864 in March 2006. This brings the total amount allocated to the Company to R2,09 million since 2002.

For the First Physical Theatre Company to say that funding from the NLDTF has been reduced is both incorrect and a grave injustice to their major funder, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund. In doing so, the Company also is guilty of attempting to garner sympathy under false pretence.

It must be remembered that the funding for the Arts from the NLDTF is for projects only and not for the day to day operations of applicants.  Applicants need also to approach other funders for funding and prevent being reliant on a single source.

Since inception, the NLDTF has allocated in excess of R4,5 billion to non-profit organisations across South Africa.