Members of the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective, Independent Producers Organisation, Animation SA, South African Film Empowerment, Documentary Filmmakers Association, various captains of industry, community partners and allies of the creative industry gathered outside the Department of Trade and Industry in Tshwane on Thursday to hold a peaceful picket to voice their growing concerns over the DTIC’s failure to address critical issues impacting the industry. 

The picket attracted over 200 attendees at the DTIC campus, demanding accountability for the funds budgeted through Treasury to support the industry and an investigation into alleged misgovernance regarding the allocated budget.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Independent Producers Organisation and partners in the TV and Film industry, Interim Secretary General Ayanda Sibisi emphasized: “The industry is on the brink of collapse, jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands. Before COVID-19, the sector:

• Employed approximately 60 000 full-time and freelance workers. 
• Supported over 100 000 jobs including indirect employment. 
• Contributed R8-10 billion in total production value. 
• Generated approximately R3.8 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI). 
• Had 67% of its workforce under the age of 35, aligning with the National Development Plan 2030. 

The memorandum presented to Chief Director Justice Ngwenya highlighted several pressing issues:

• The lack of response to the industries previous engagements 
• Pay claims that have been overdue for more than 18 months, some 24 and others 36 months. 
• Expediting the approval of outstanding applications, many of which have been delayed for over 10 months. 
• The last adjudication committee meeting was held in February 2024. The DTIC have since continued to receive applications, without approving them thus creating more backlogs which needs to be remedied. 
• Revise the inconsistent and ambiguous interpretations of specific mandatory conditions outlined in the guidelines issued on 1st September 2023. Industry collectively made submissions to the DTIC on the guidelines which have never been addressed. 
• Provide detailed explanations when claims are not fully paid out as per approved amounts in the approval letter. 

The group is also urging the minister to initiate a comprehensive external investigation into the alleged maladministration of the incentive by the DTIC, “and to get to the bottom of how this once well-functioning incentive has fallen into disrepair and mismanagement”.

“We demand to see the statistics the DTIC have on record on the incentive scheme since its inception namely; amount of funds assigned to each different scheme over each of the years the scheme has been operational; amount of jobs (full time and part time employment) that have been reported and a clear and transparent formula for how the DTIC have measured these statistics so they can be easily interpreted and compared to the industries own records as the disparity between the DTIC’s reported statistics and industries statistics is significant,” Sibisi said.

“Our aim is not confrontational but constructive and productive engagement for the benefit of the industry’s growth, and broader social and economic development for the country,” said Sibisi. “We seek a functional and systematic rebate that supports economic growth and ensures a sustainable future for our industry and the potential it has to create jobs, draw in tourism and foreign direct investment, and enhance our national pride.”

The DTIC had not responded to The Callsheet’s request for comment by the time of publication. This story will be updated as soon as a reply has been received.