South Africa's DTIC says film rebate is back in business

The short version

• South Africa's 25% film and television cash rebate was paralyzed for more than two years, Variety reports.[Variety]
• The DTIC says the department is back in business and is working through claims backlogged since 2024.[Variety]
• Variety reports the DTIC has paid most of a nearly 2-billion-rand backlog and secured about 1.5 billion rand through 2029.[Variety]
• Producers say the worst is over, but some projects still report claims unpaid for years.[Variety]

Key facts

• South Africa's 25% cash rebate for film and television production was paralyzed for more than two years, according to Variety's reporting.[Variety]
• Nelly Molokoane, director of film and television production at the Dept. of Trade, Industry and Competition, said at the Durban FilmMart that the department is back in business.[Variety]
• The DTIC is working through a backlog of applications and rebate claims dating back to 2024, following months of pressure from industry bodies.[Variety]
• The DTIC has made significant strides in paying off most of a nearly 2-billion-rand (about $121 million) backlog of unpaid rebate claims.[Variety]
• The DTIC has secured roughly 1.5 billion rand (about $91 million) to fund the rebate through 2029.[Variety]
• Producer Delon Bakker, chairperson of the Independent Producers Organization, said the worst is over and that the industry is moving in the right direction.[Variety]
• Producer Paul Buys of Rose and Oaks Media said some projects have made claims that have not been paid two, three, or four years later.[Variety]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• How South Africa Rescued Its Rebate and Pulled the Industry Back From the Brink: We’re ‘Back in Business’Variety metered