South Africa says film rebate is back after two-year freeze

South Africa's 25% film and television rebate is working again after more than two years when the programme had effectively ceased to function.

Nelly Molokoane, director of film and television production at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), delivered the message at Durban FilmMart. The update was reported by Variety on 12 October 2026.

"The department is back in business," Molokoane told delegates. "We know that the industry now is bleeding, but we are doing our best." The words were blunt. They recognised the strain on crews and companies during the freeze.

The department is now working through a backlog of applications and claims dating back to 2024. That clean-up followed pressure from the Save SA Film and TV Jobs Coalition. Most of a backlog worth nearly 2 billion rand ($121 million) in unpaid claims has now been paid.

Pretoria has also secured roughly 1.5 billion rand ($91 million) to fund the rebate through 2029. That commitment gives producers a clearer calendar for planning. A cash rebate here means a production gets a share of its qualifying local spend returned after audit, which lowers the cost of shooting in the country.

Trust is still fragile. Molokoane faced calls for her resignation from industry bodies at the height of the crisis. Producer Delon Bakker, chairperson of the Independent Producers Organization, has been among the leading industry voices in the debate on repairs to the system.

The freeze cut deep earlier in 2026. Crews staged protests in Cape Town over funding problems in January, Reuters reported. In March, the industry called on lawmakers to rescue the 25% scheme as payments stalled, Variety reported. South Africa stayed on location scouts' lists for its competitive currency and varied locations, Screen Daily noted in May, but uncertainty over payment made planning difficult.

In September, the department issued a reassurance notice affirming its continued commitment to the Film and Television Incentive Programme. The notice was listed by the DTIC alongside its regular industry updates.

For producers, this means dates can be pencilled in again. A funded rebate through 2029 lets a local film or an visiting international shoot budget with confidence. The test now is speed. Claims must be paid on time, every time.