A sector in freefall

As productions stall and jobs disappear, film workers say a broken incentive scheme threatens the future of one of South Africa's most visible industries

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Disillusioned: Although the industry previously mobilised in February 2025, the current wave of protests reflects a continued failure by the government to act decisively.

(Photo: Supplied)

The immediate casualty of the incentive's dysfunction is foreign direct investment, which Devnarain says is being diverted to other African countries and production hubs beyond the continent.

More damaging, however, is the reputational fallout. “Once South Africa develops a reputation for incompetence and poor administration, which is the case now,” he argues, “then we will always be overlooked by producers who are looking to create great content within an administration that works.”

In an industry driven by tight schedules and complex financing arrangements, reliability is everything. Even generous incentives lose their appeal if approvals are delayed or payments uncertain. Devnarain is pessimistic about how quickly that trust can be restored.

“We are unlikely to regain that confidence from international producers in the near future,” he says.

The crisis has hit actors particularly hard. Even in stable times, Devnarain notes, acting work is precarious, poorly regulated and vulnerable to exploitation. “We are also vulnerable to a lack of regulation and a lack of minimum standards when it comes to our earning rates and contractual standards.”

With fewer productions moving forward, actors lose not only income but opportunities to develop their craft and build sustainable careers. “You have actors who are no longer able to develop their skills, to showcase their talent, and to develop a strong body of work. It is catastrophic.”

The situation is made more bitter by recent legislative progress. The DTIC played a role in drafting legislation that would, for the first time, secure statutory royalty rights for actors. This was a long-fought victory aimed at ensuring residual income from their work.