June 16, 2021

To: THE MINISTER OF SPORTS, ARTS & CULTURE

By: Paxton Setou

In terms of section 12(1) of the NAC ACT, It is with unfortunate regards that I compose this here my letter to the minister of Arts & Culture and the National Arts Council at large. I hereby express my most sincere apprehensions as one of the PESP applicants for 2021 funding for the film project titled “Symmetry” of which I was “provisionally funded” by the NAC, but later had to come to terms with the reality that such a truth, was but an inconsistent falsehood when I later received an email by the NAC that my project was rejected by the panel.
It is therefore among one of the numerous conflicting reasons of which I write to the Minister and NAC with faithful hopes that I, like many Art practitioners in SA may find divine justice and intervention, fair & unbiased treatment and funding for deserving projects we present to the NAC because as it may, Art and creation is all that our families depend on to survive, to live and ultimately to thrive in the 21st century democratic South Africa. With that said, let me proceed to the quintessential parts of this letter with confidence that God grants the council the Serenity to accept the things it can’t change, the Courage to change the things that it can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.
I've in the past years applied to the NAC for funding a total of 16 times and in all 16 accounts was told that there was insufficent funds to finance my film project. In the beginning of 2021 I again applied for the PESP fund for a total amount of R280 500. I then spoke to one of the NAC Council memebers Mr.Tshepo Mashiane telephonically after having understood that I was provissionally funded and he informed me that I should await for an appointment/contract letter via e-mail in the month of March for approved applicants to come and sign for an approved funding.
I waited two months following our conversation on call only to recieve an email on 26th of May 2021 from The NAC stating the following:
" Dear Mr PAXTON SETOU Y20INPESPNW/1628 3600001 Symmetry
We would like to thank you for your interest and application to the Presidential Employment Stimulus Package managed by the NAC.
We regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful. This is due to inconsistencies in how some of the declined applications were assessed during the review process. We would like to sincerely apologise for this unfortunate occurrence and wish to assure you that your application will be one of those forming the subject of the forensic investigation related to the mismanagement of the PESP programme.
The NAC team encourages you to continue working in the Arts and will welcome a proposal from you in the next NAC funding round, which will be managed efficiently due to the updated internal policies that will govern applications moving forward. If you have any particular questions, please email pespnacappeals@dsac.gov.za
We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this has caused".
It is with celestial hope and a graceful spirit that I write this letter to the Minister of Sports and Arts & Culture to lend me a hand of divine justice, graceful servitude and emergency funding of R250 000 for the passionate film project titled Symmetry which will make for lasting economic, social cohesion and artistic impact in the society we're living in today as the Youth and altimately the Nation as a whole.
I hope the honourable Minister finds and treats the contents of this letter with graceful sincerity to act in accordance with divine wisdom and costitutional rightiousness.
I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours Professionally
Paxton Setou