Netflix Celebrates 10 Years of Investing in South Africa’s Creative Industry
Netflix Celebrates 10 Years of Investing in South Africa’s Creative Industry. Netflix has marked 10 years in South Africa with a new slate of local series and films since launching locally in 2016. The streaming platform said its local productions have supported more than 8,000 jobs through partnerships with more than 30 production companies. Netflix now has more than 300 South African titles available to audiences globally.
The next slate was unveiled at a press showcase in Rosebank, Johannesburg. Upcoming productions span unscripted content, thrillers, family drama and comedy.
“Ten years ago, we set out to share South African stories and voices with the world,” said Ben Amadasun, VP of content for Netflix Middle East and Africa. He said the platform was continuing its partnership with the local creative industry, with established names and new production partners.
Over the past decade, titles including Blood and Water, Young, Famous & African, Unseen, Silverton Siege, Fatal Seduction, Disaster Holiday, How to Ruin Christmas, Beauty and the Bester, Marked, Kings of Joburg, Blood Legacy, The Polygamist and Umthetho have brought South African stories to international audiences.
Netflix said its productions have been filmed across 20 cities in eight provinces, using local cast and crews and featuring stories rooted in South African settings and culture.
Several local titles have appeared on Netflix’s Top 10 lists. Johannesburg-filmed The Polygamist generated more than 24 million views in its first weeks, reaching the Top 10 in 62 countries and ranking number one in more than 21 countries.
The series also drove sales of its source material after debut. Based on Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi’s 2012 novel of the same name, The Polygamist saw sales of the book triple following its Netflix debut, more than a decade after publication.
With its next slate, Netflix is entering its second decade in South Africa with established talent and new production partnerships.
