Port Alfred debuts on Netflix series
‘Miseducation’ also filmed university scenes in Makhanda
Creative director of Miseducation, Rethabile Ramaphakela, said she was blown away by Port Alfred.
The town gets a good cameo on the Netflix series that started streaming on Friday September 15.
The series is about a young, selfabsorbed, first-year varsity student.
After a fall from grace at her elite private school, she embarks on a mission to climb the social ranks at a small-town university in the hopes of being the popular girl she used to be.
This series was mainly shot in Makhanda, with some scenes in Port Alfred. Several days of shooting were done on the Kowie River, with the Skiboat Club as the base.
“One of our characters, Sivu Levin, is a rower and we found out that some rowing competitions happen in Port Alfred,” Ramaphakela said. “This gave us the perfect opportunity to see a different side of the Eastern Cape that completely contrasts with Makhanda.”
Ramaphakela said it was her first time in Port Alfred and she had been completely blown away by the town.
Meanwhile, locals snapped up the opportunity when the call for extras came. Among them was a contingent from Sha-Loui Dance School.
“I haven’t watched the series yet, but seeing myself on TV in the past hasn’t made me feel any different,” said Kyle Badenhorst — one of the extras and Sha-Loui owner and instructor.
“That being said, it is awesome that as locals we could get the opportunity to be extras in a series being shot here.”
Up the road, Makhanda also enjoyed the spotlight, with Makana Tourism helping facilitate the shoot.
“It is our honour to be chosen to have such an exciting production,” acting Makana Tourism director Prudence Mini said.
“We hope this will give us exposure and encourage more producers to use Makhanda and its surrounds as a location,” Mini said.