Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Lights, camera, anger: filming upsets many in Bo-Kaap
LAST week, Weekend Argus reported Bo-Kaap residents were frustrated by filming disrupting life in their neighbourhood. Following this, further issues have been brought up by some members of the community.
Some residents expressed concern about the vehicles of film companies taking up parking spots in the narrow Bo-Kaap streets.
“I went to Dr Jakoet (on September 15) and had to circle Rose Street about four times,” said Wafiqah Osman. “I eventually found parking on Church Street but just driving through was difficult.”
Spokesperson for the City of Cape Town, Luthando Tyhalibongo said a permit was issued for that day but the City had received no complaints relating to this shoot. “It is important to note that almost all parking bays in the Bo-Kaap are public parking and, similar to other areas across the city, no one is entitled to, or guaranteed open public parking,” said Tyhalibongo.
Another resident complained a “gangster scene” was filmed outside a mosque in Leeuwen Street.
“The shot was towards the shop opposite the mosque at the time when I passed by, and the young man had a balaclava on, walking from the shop,” added a community leader, who asked not to be named, who has served as spokesperson for the people of Bo-Kaap for many years.
“Why are films of crime made in Bo-Kaap around mosques and shops? It leaves subliminal messages of Muslims as a degenerate people due to their ‘terroristic’ faith.”
According to Tyhalibongo, the City’s Film Permit Office was not aware of permitting any film shoots that referenced Bo-Kaap’s Muslim people as terrorists.
“There were two film shoots on September 17. One was a fashion shoot and the other was for a soccer advert, and no balaclava was needed for any of these shoots,” he said.
“The City of Cape Town’s permit officers do random compliance spot checks on all approved productions. Should the Film Office become aware of any issues with any specific location, an officer will be assigned to monitor the shoot and address any issues.”
The community leader, who served as an international art consultant specialising in symbolism in multimedia, remained concerned about shoots that created “the terrorist ruffian stereotyping of Muslims”.
“The subtlety of anti-Muslim media is often unknown to struggling Muslims who get paid a pittance to sell their own people. If they are no terrorists, create them; if not now, in the future generations of Muslims through informants and media creations.”
Osman Shaboodien, chair of the
Bo-Kaap Civic Association, confirmed community co-ordinators were not paid a salary but film companies could offer them a donation for assisting with the shoots.
“If schools or private homes and stoeps are used, that is negotiated by the film companies and the residents whose premises are used,” said Shaboodien. “If residents’ services are used for security or other purposes, they do give them a stipend.”
Tyhalibongo explained community co-ordinators hired by film companies were essentially local “fixers”, but these companies were not required to make donations to any organisations or individuals in order to film in areas.
“The use of local fixers is a standard industry practice and fixers are responsible for arranging everything required for effective filming from accommodation to permits, food and more,” said Tyhalibongo.
Tyhalibongo confirmed for the year to date, the City’s Film Permit Office (FPO) had issued more than 2 800 permits for locations across the city.
“Film permits, just like event permits, are free of charge, but film production companies are billed in the event they use traffic services and metro police officers for the closure of roads.
“However, in the current financial year (2022/23), the Safety and Security Directorate has taken the decision to freeze these tariffs for the film industry. The measure is aimed at regaining the local industry’s momentum and reputation as an international film destination after the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and travel restrictions.”
Some residents were grateful for the money community co-ordinators make by assisting film companies.
“Certainly some members of the community make money from this, so don’t judge, everybody needs moola,” said Faried Alfos. After what Covid did, just be glad that we still have some sort of industry going.”
The community leader suggested that the cost of the inconvenience was not adequately compensated for by the film companies.
“The money that they pay the unemployed to keep us away from our own access is an insult. Disturbing the peace of residents is a crime.”