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The DA calls upon Minister Lindiwe Zulu to target the film and industry sector as a strategic industry for job creation in South Africa by establishing sector specific business incubators for small and medium enterprises within the film and production sectors.
 
This follows an announcement by the Minister of Trade & Industry, Rob Davies,  to lower the threshold for film production companies claiming rebates for films produced in South Africa.
 
Production companies, spending R500 000 or more, compared to R10 million under the status quo, will be allowed to claim rebates for film production. This will boost the fortunes of the industry, particularly entry level and small to medium size enterprises within the sector – thereby potentially raising prospects of job creation within the industry.


The proposed rebates will incentivise production within the sector and will allow South Africa to fully exploit its potential as a production hub, and meet growing demand from film producers.
 
The creative economy, which includes the film production sector, is a major potential source of employment for skilled and semi-skilled people looking for work and all must be done to nurture this growing sector.
 
The DA also calls for a coordinated strategy for promoting the industry abroad through joint interaction between  the Department of Trade and Industry, SA Tourism and the Department of Arts & Culture, in order to effectively communicate the industry’s potential to international production houses, thereby promoting South Africa as an ideal filming destination.
 
The Department of Small Business Development must play an active part in formulating this strategy on behalf of small businesses and also overseeing its implementation.