GOOD Statement by Kaden Arguile, GOOD National Youth Organiser:
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTIC) has made a crucial error in its mismanagement and failure to safeguard its Incentive Scheme for the film industry. With 100,000 households set to be economically impacted by its removal, the government must come to the negotiating table or risk the collapse of an industry pivotal not only to South Africa’s economy but also its identity.
It is an open secret that the arts within our country are under attack. The defunding of the National Arts Festival, MultiChoice’s cancellation of channels and shows, and now the announcement of the cancellation of the incentive scheme are making a pivotal sector unsalvageable.
After a year of delays in public participation processes, this decision by the DTIC will only lead to further job loss. We have already seen a 67% decrease in local production, compounded by over R24 billion in revenue lost to set-location competitors such as Ireland and Mauritius. This mismanagement can no longer be ignored by Parliament; an urgent investigation and intervention must be launched.
This process will not only regain the trust of local film industries but also open opportunities for media giants such as Netflix or Amazon to invest in South Africa as the ideal location for their productions. The correct intervention is vital, as the media industry is unique in its age markup and is a diverse sector employing both highly skilled and low-skilled professionals. With the right investment, it has the potential to make serious strides in addressing our youth unemployment crisis.
GOOD echoes the requests made by the South African Actors Guild and other key players in the media landscape:
- An immediate meeting with the DTIC Portfolio Committee, including representatives from each of the key film bodies.
- An action plan detailing how to recover the financial incentive scheme or other alternatives that could suffice.
- The creation of an online portal through which aspiring artists can track their applications.
- An immediate investigation into the mismanagement of funds within the Portfolio Committee, with the minutes of all future engagements on such issues made publicly available.
- Full public transparency regarding the budget of these funding schemes and where financial investments have occurred.
Without these key steps, there is no viable way to salvage the relationship between the Department and the media landscape. We will simply be leaving these individuals to financial destitution. It is important to note that the collapse of this industry will not just impact film and media; the tourism, hospitality, and construction sectors will all feel this loss as more international and local productions shut down due to mismanagement and a lack of industry professionals.
Furthermore, this financial scheme is not a grant or a handout, but rather a vital mechanism in enabling economic competition and stimulation. It ensures that investment stays within South African borders rather than seeking alternatives elsewhere.
As a party, we were witnesses to the Chairperson of the DTIC’s signing of the memorandum on the 28th of January outside the National Assembly, as well as his commitment to meet with the Minister of the DTIC within a ten-day period. We commit to the South African public and the various guilds in the film and media industry to monitor this process from within the political establishment and ensure that these promises are kept. Without our art, our country loses culture and credibility. We must ensure that this vital industry keeps rolling.
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