Latest news with #R148
The Citizen
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Cape Town's appeal as a film destination drives upswing in city's hospitality industry
With foreign film investment in Cape Town set to surpass R5 billion by October, the city's hospitality sector—especially in the CBD—is thriving. Cape Town's global appeal as a film destination is driving a major economic upswing in the city's hospitality industry. Picture:Cape Town's global appeal as a film destination is driving a significant economic upswing in the city's hospitality industry. However, in May, US President Donald Trump proposed imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced content. If enacted, this tariff could affect locally made films, including productions filmed in Cape Town, and series sold to the US market. 'It may have an impact on films looking to be produced solely in Cape Town, but as an example, many scenes in the new Mission Impossible movie were shot in parts of Cape Town and the Western Cape,' Grant Elliot, chief operating officer at Thibault Investments and deputy chairperson of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), told The Citizen. 'The movie was still made and produced out of the United States, and this is the case with many productions from around the world that use our beautiful city and landscape in their productions,' he said. According to the City's Film Permits Office, from 1 November 2023 to 30 June 2024, film crews booked more than 59 000 beds in Cape Town, spending nearly R148 million. These productions are driving consistent demand for accommodation, food services, transport and office space, creating real economic value for local businesses. ALSO READ: Trump's film tantrum: Brandon Auret calls on Gayton McKenzie to invest in local films What makes Cape Town special? With foreign investment in Cape Town's film production industry estimated to break through the R5-billion barrier by October this year, the city's hospitality industry, especially in the CBD, is reaping huge rewards. South Africa's central business districts (CBDs) are often associated with unsafe, polluted, and derelict buildings. Elliot says what has made Cape Town's CBD standout is the partnership between the government and the CCID. 'The Cape Town CBD is a well-managed CBD with several partners working together to ensure it is safe, clean, and a welcoming environment to visit, do business, work and stay,' he says. The CCID is a not-for-profit private-public company established 25 years ago to create a workable inner city. It focuses on public safety, cleanliness, and social development, maintaining a continuous 24/7 presence in the central city and providing services that complement those of the city and South African Police Service (Saps). According to the City of Cape Town's Film Permits Office, a total of 550 production shoots took place in the Cape Town CBD from 1 January to 26 May 2025. These included commercials, documentaries, feature films, micro-shoots, music videos, student projects, TV films and productions, and TV series. Of these, 219 were 'large and very large' commercial shoots, 106 were micro shoots, 22 were TV series, and 14 were feature films. ALSO READ: Back to the Future: Search is on for the Gibson guitar that was last seen in 1985 Tourism There's a lucrative tourism factor when people shoot films across South Africa. The impact of cinema on tourism is enormous. The fantasy film series The Lord of the Rings significantly contributed to New Zealand's GDP through tourism. The series, which was filmed entirely in Australia, boosted tourism by approximately 50%, generating an estimated NZ$33 million (approximately R600 million) in annual revenue. By 2018, New Zealand welcomed approximately 3.6 million visitors annually, and tourism had become the nation's largest export industry. Speaking to The Citizen in May, actor Brandon Auret stated that South Africa has more to offer tourists than its three largest metropolitan areas: Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. 'My whole big thing is not just about making films, not just about investing in the communities that are in those cities, but opening up the tourism. Getting people to go, 'wow, that movie was shot where?',' says Auret. Elliot couldn't comment on whether there has been a similar demand from local productions to shoot in. Auret has called on Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie to use Trump's 100% tariffs on films made outside the US as an opportunity to invest in the local film industry. 'I'm a firm believer in that when the door is closed, jump through the window,' he said. NOW READ: A spy's story – David Africa's book 'Lives On The Line' thrills
eNCA
07-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Trump's proposed 100% foreign movie tariff 'misguided'
JOHANNESBURG - US President Donald Trump once again has the world on tenterhooks. This time he is targeting the film and production industry. He announced a 100% tariff on foreign-made movies. Trump says the tariffs are a drastic attempt to boost the US movie industry. While this proposal has been stalled, it has ruffled the feathers of many film producers outside of the US. Holocene Films CEO Weaam Williams says the plan could hurt South Africa's film industry, especially those companies that work with the US and which facilitate Hollywood production. The proposal could also prove detrimental to those who distribute films to the US. It's not yet clear how the tax would be implemented, and Williams says creatives have many un-answered questions. 'Trump's plans are very unclear, whether it implies to foreign films distributed inside the US or co-productions between the US and other countries,' she says. Jack Devnarain, an actor and chairperson of the SA Guild of Actors, says the proposal is misguided and lacks forethought. Brendan Smialowski / AFP According to statistics from the Film Industry Visa Assistance programme and the Commercial Producers Association of South Africa (CPASA), the local film industry attracted R2.52 billion in foreign investment through international productions between November 2023 and June 2024. During this time, foreign film crews booked over 59,000 hotel bed nights, generating R148 million for the hospitality sector. Additional spending on transportation, dining and recreational activities further underscore the pivotal role of film production in bolstering business tourism. The CPASA says the film industry has created 26,573 jobs for local freelance crew members and performers. The sector also supports small businesses, including catering and equipment rental services, extending its economic impact.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
New Ribane-Laka School of Specialisation opens in Mamelodi, focusing on automotive and electronics skills
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was flanked by two learners at Ribane-Laka Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation in Mamelodi during its launch on Wednesday. Image: Supplied The newly-launched Ribane-Laka Maths, Science and ICT School of Specialisation in Mamelodi township, rebuilt at a cost of R148 million, will offer learners an opportunity to gain skills in electronics and automotive sectors from an early stage, marking a new chapter for them. Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, announced during the school's unveiling ceremony that the school of specialisation will focus on automotive and electronics, aiming to advance the 4th Industrial Revolution. 'As much as one learner said it will improve their employability, our objective is not to be employed; it is for them to create jobs for themselves and others,' he said. He encouraged learners to make use of the skills they acquire at school to economically acquire themselves. 'Once you know how to fix a car, that skill you can actually use to benefit yourselves economically. We are giving you skills that will empower you not only in terms of a career path, but practical skills that you can use if there is a need for them,' he said. The school, converted from a secondary school, features state-of-the-art technology, including advanced laboratories for scientific experiments, modern ICT infrastructure, and a multi-purpose auditorium. He urged community members to protect the facility from vandalism and break-ins by taking care of it. 'This infrastructure must last for long; it must not only benefit the current cohort but it must benefit many for many years,' he said. Chiloane explained that the school was chosen for conversion to a school of specialisation due to its strong performance, citing a 98% pass rate in the first term of the current academic year. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said in his keynote address: 'Today we are launching education for purpose, where our children are not going to be taught things that are not going to assist them. Where our children are not going to be taught things that are going to be irrelevant when they leave the school.' He said the school earned its spot as the 36th school of specialisation due to its strong performance, rather than being arbitrarily chosen. He explained that when schools of specialisation were launched three years ago, the goal was to identify and build on high-performing secondary schools. 'We chose Ribane-Laka because at one stage they gave us 100% success,' he said. He said the Gauteng government had resolved years ago to differentiate its schools through the schools of specialisation programme, aiming to address unique challenges and avoid uniformity. 'There are many people who don't understand when we fight for equal education and education that transforms our society. They don't get it. Never before that anyone thought that a Ford Ranger would be inside the school premises not to boast but to teach our children how to repair it when it is broken. No one thought that we could have an engine inside the school premises where our children can explain its meaning; where our children can explain to you how an engine functions,' Lesufi said. Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (Tasez) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the school to offer support. Tasez leader, Bheki Zulu, said the entity has launched an academy, which will give learners opportunities to advance their studies and achieve automotive excellence. 'Over and above that we want to expose these learners to industries so that by the time they exit the school they have a fair understanding of what automotive and ICT is all about,' he said. [email protected]
