The National Film and Television industry has announced plans to march to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) offices in both Cape Town and Pretoria, revealing systemic failures that are crippling the sector.
The planned demonstrations stem from a series of protests that occurred this year, as the film and television industry escalates efforts to highlight its challenges.
Industry leaders say the situation has reached a breaking point, with thousands of jobs now at risk.
Earlier this year, on February 27, 2025, several industry bodies united in protest outside the DTIC’s Pretoria campus.
However, Molebatsi says that despite repeated engagements with the department and multiple assurances, very little has changed.
Wandile Molebatsi, deputy chairperson of the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), has stated that the continuous mismanagement of the Film and TV Incentive Scheme has severely impacted South Africa's creative economy, describing the situation as being "on life support".
Under the initiative SAVE SA FILM JOBS, Molebatsi announced that South Africa's film and television industry will organise street demonstrations on January 28 and 29, 2026, in both Cape Town and Pretoria.
“Despite repeated engagements and promises, the Save SA Film Jobs coalition reports that there has been minimal progress,” he said, adding that the lack of response has made renewed national mobilisation in 2026 “both necessary and unavoidable.”
“Our decline is the direct result of a poorly implemented and red-tape-riddled rebate system whose approvals have stalled and a department that refuses to engage meaningfully with the industry.”
Molebatsi further explained that the upcoming marches are being organised by a broad national coalition of industry bodies, including Animation SA (ASA), the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA), the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO), the Personal Managers’ Association (PMA), the Writers’ Guild of South Africa (WGSA) and the South African Screen Federation (SASFED).
“When the film incentive fails, it is not just producers who suffer,” the coalition noted. “It impacts the entire ecosystem.”
Earlier in May, the Saturday Star reported on industry figures who took a stand at a march held in Constitutional Hill. Major players including Kgomotso Christopher, Nambitha Mpumlwana, Loyiso McDonald, and Lawrence Maleka highlighted long-overlooked challenges within the sector.
Jack Devnarain, Chairperson of SAGA, emphasised the urgent need for the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill, legislation he said would finally enable artists to reclaim ownership of their work and ensure fair royalties.
“For far too long, South African performers have been denied residual earnings and royalties by producers and broadcasters, robbing them not only of a sustainable livelihood but also of the dignity and recognition their work deserves,” Devnarain said.
He added: “We are also there to honour and fight for the legacy of actors who have passed and whose families continue to be denied the earnings owed to them. The demonstration coincides with the court’s consideration of matters related to the Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill (PPAB) – vital legislation that, if implemented correctly, would finally codify fair royalties and residuals for actors and other creatives.”
At the core of SAGA’s campaign is the belief that access, equity, and fair compensation must be the cornerstones of a society that values the contributions of its artists.
“We stand firmly with ReCreate, BlindSA, Section27, Wikimedia South Africa, SADTU, LIASA, and others to advocate for these principles,” Devnarain said.
With the industry now preparing for the January marches, stakeholders remain united in their call for urgent reforms, warning that without decisive government action, South Africa risks losing one of its most dynamic creative sectors and thousands of associated jobs.
Saturday Star