City to request review of new visa regulations that threaten job creation

Newly gazetted immigration procedures which include strict new visa regulations will likely have a negative effect on Cape Town's booming film industry, investment sector and business tourism sector. The City will therefore request that the Minister of Home Affairs review these procedures. Read more below:

Cape Town has established itself as the premier filming destination for local and international film makers, but the implementation of complex new regulations puts the city at risk of losing its reputation as the top filming location in Africa. Additionally, the procedural change threatens to lead to a decrease in foreign direct investment, thus negatively affecting the employment potential stemming from such investment.

The Immigration Regulations of 2014 came into effect on 26 May 2014 and set stringent conditions for visa applications for foreigners, including for work; the establishment of businesses; and for the spouses and partners of foreigners working in South Africa.

‘The local film industry has over the past three years created more than 35 000 jobs and contributed approximately R5 billion to the economy. As an opportunity city, we cannot sit by as thousands of jobs are placed in jeopardy by national government. I will therefore be writing to the Minister of Home Affairs to request a review of the aspects of the proposed visa application procedures that would significantly stifle job creation. Economic growth and job creation will continue to be a priority for the City of Cape Town,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Garreth Bloor.

The new regulations make doing business difficult, prohibiting foreign actors and film crews from changing their visa status in South Africa. The regulations further stipulate that visa applications must be made in person and in the individual's home country. This is an administrative burden and will make international filmmakers think twice before choosing Cape Town for shoots, thus placing this lucrative industry in jeopardy.

Film makers are already feeling the effect. The American drama series Homeland, which was due to start filming in Cape Town this month, had to reschedule production days at great expense due to the visa changes.

This is a highly competitive industry globally, with each destination jostling to attract more film companies to their shores.  Not only Cape Town, but South Africa, needs to continually ensure that it remains an attractive destination for location filming in order to maintain its international reputation. According to Global Migration South Africa, the new visa procedures will put R1 billion in investment and 1 600 local jobs at risk.

‘In the current tough global economic environment, the country needs to remain competitive in as many sectors as possible. The film production sector adds value to a wide range of additional sectors in the local economy by creating a demand for products and services - with particularly strong links to the tourism sector. The industry also showcases Cape Town, its diversity of locations, technical film capacity and talent, and addresses seasonality. Cape Town is a popular filming location in winter, offering good natural lighting and providing value-added marketing and investment collateral for the city and the country,' said Councillor Bloor.

Statement issued by Councillor Garreth Bloor, Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, City of Cape Town, June 4 2014

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