South Africa’s film and television industry took to the streets this week as hundreds of creatives, producers, and crew members joined the #SaveSAFilmJobs protests, demanding urgent government intervention amid a deepening industry crisis. On 28 January 2026, protesters gathered outside Parliament in Cape Town, with a second march planned for 29 January in Johannesburg, where industry stakeholders will mobilise at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in Pretoria.
The protests stem from mounting frustration over prolonged delays in the DTIC’s film and television incentive scheme, which has left productions stalled and livelihoods threatened. Independent Producers Organisation representatives and industry leaders have warned that the lack of timely funding approvals has pushed the sector to the brink of collapse.
Speaking on Newzroom Afrika, industry representative Wandile Molebatsi painted a stark picture of the crisis. “We are at 67% shrink of jobs, people not able to pay school fees, people losing homes,” he said. “This is nothing other than a demand for our jobs to come back.”
Outside Parliament, protesters echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that the crisis is no longer abstract but deeply personal. “Hundreds of us are gathered outside Parliament today because we refuse to be invisible in our own democracy,” read a statement from the #SaveSAFilm coalition. “When support is ignored, futures are put on hold and we’ve had enough.”
As the marches continue across major cities, the industry is calling for urgent reform of the film incentive system, warning that without immediate action, South Africa risks losing both talent and economic value from one of its most vibrant creative sectors.
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