Durban streets double as international film sets

STREETS in Durban’s colourful Casbah area are being transformed into movie sets on weekends for international film crew.

Bond, Cross and Dr Goonam streets in central Durban were made to look like streets of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Lagos in Nigeria.

Belinda Johnson, creative producer of Film Afrika, said the palm trees, double storey, period looking buildings have a generic look and could be a place anywhere in Africa or India.

“A number of driving scenes are featured in films shot along those streets. Cross and Bond streets are narrow, but the buildings in that area have character, in terms of architecture and the roller shutter doors on the businesses.

“Members of the film industry have a good relationship with local business and traders,” said Johnson.

Last Sunday an international production was shot in Bond Street which doubled for Lagos.

In 2018 The Widow, a TV series for Amazon Prime, starring Kate Beckinsale, was filmed in Dr Goonam Street. The scenes for the series, which were released last year, were made to look like a place in the DRC.

The series was nominated for a Locations Guild of America Award.

“Although it did not win the Durban location, it most certainly contributed to this nomination, said Johnson.

Neville Botha, a location scout, manager and security adviser, said the industrial feel to the western part of Dr Goonam Street with a bit of the freeway visible and palm streets lining the centre of the street, was an attraction.

“The palm trees sit among old colonial-style buildings. And the two-storey building takes one back to the ’60s. Durban can represent any Pan-african city street.

“European and American film companies are happy to shoot in Durban. We can do any part of Africa here as well as Mumbai,” said Botha.

He said part of the city had played a part in a number of productions such as Mister Bob, Mordene I Kongo and Red Sea Diving Resort.

“We recently used a corner tearoom as a bank. Businesses and street vendors are happy to have us film there on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday. They also get to benefit financially for their loss of income for the day. The local economy benefits hugely, from the hotels to equipment hire companies,” he said.