The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's main opposition party, on Monday called for an audit of R150-million in relief funding issued to the department of sports arts and culture and meant to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 crisis on the sector.

In a statement, DA member of parliament and head of sports, arts and culture Tsepo Mhlongo said his call followed "numerous" allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the funds and the accusation that the department was not transparent about the funding process.

He said since the government had imposed a lockdown from March 27 to try and contain the coronavirus, the DA had had misgivings regarding the relief payments made to artists and athletes and had continuously demanded clarity on the criteria used.

"The relief fund application process has been laden with uncertainties and poor communication form the department," Mhlongo said.

"Thousands of South Africans athletes and artists whose applications for relief funding has been rejected are rightfully questioning why some people benefited while they haven't."

He urged Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa to re-open the application process for relief fund to afford those who had previously been unsuccessful or missed the prior deadline a new and fair opportunity to access this much-needed support.

"The second phase must be a substantial, 15-day period that allows artists and sportspeople a fair opportunity to access aid," the DA legislator said.

"The distribution of relief funding must not to be ensnared in unnecessary red tape. Artists and sportspeople are suffering and the department must step up and ensure that the money that was allocated for this relief is distributed in a fair, transparent and timeous manner."

Minister Mthethwa was due on Monday to host a virtual media briefing on the progress made with regards to the allocation of the Covid-19 relief fund as well as the resumption of sports.