Latest news with #CCID
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Cape Town's appeal as a film destination drives upswing in city's hospitality industry
With foreign film investment in Cape Town set to surpass R5 billion by October, the city's hospitality sector—especially in the CBD—is thriving. Cape Town's global appeal as a film destination is driving a major economic upswing in the city's hospitality industry. Picture:Cape Town's global appeal as a film destination is driving a significant economic upswing in the city's hospitality industry. However, in May, US President Donald Trump proposed imposing a 100% tariff on all foreign-produced content. If enacted, this tariff could affect locally made films, including productions filmed in Cape Town, and series sold to the US market. 'It may have an impact on films looking to be produced solely in Cape Town, but as an example, many scenes in the new Mission Impossible movie were shot in parts of Cape Town and the Western Cape,' Grant Elliot, chief operating officer at Thibault Investments and deputy chairperson of the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), told The Citizen. 'The movie was still made and produced out of the United States, and this is the case with many productions from around the world that use our beautiful city and landscape in their productions,' he said. According to the City's Film Permits Office, from 1 November 2023 to 30 June 2024, film crews booked more than 59 000 beds in Cape Town, spending nearly R148 million. These productions are driving consistent demand for accommodation, food services, transport and office space, creating real economic value for local businesses. ALSO READ: Trump's film tantrum: Brandon Auret calls on Gayton McKenzie to invest in local films What makes Cape Town special? With foreign investment in Cape Town's film production industry estimated to break through the R5-billion barrier by October this year, the city's hospitality industry, especially in the CBD, is reaping huge rewards. South Africa's central business districts (CBDs) are often associated with unsafe, polluted, and derelict buildings. Elliot says what has made Cape Town's CBD standout is the partnership between the government and the CCID. 'The Cape Town CBD is a well-managed CBD with several partners working together to ensure it is safe, clean, and a welcoming environment to visit, do business, work and stay,' he says. The CCID is a not-for-profit private-public company established 25 years ago to create a workable inner city. It focuses on public safety, cleanliness, and social development, maintaining a continuous 24/7 presence in the central city and providing services that complement those of the city and South African Police Service (Saps). According to the City of Cape Town's Film Permits Office, a total of 550 production shoots took place in the Cape Town CBD from 1 January to 26 May 2025. These included commercials, documentaries, feature films, micro-shoots, music videos, student projects, TV films and productions, and TV series. Of these, 219 were 'large and very large' commercial shoots, 106 were micro shoots, 22 were TV series, and 14 were feature films. ALSO READ: Back to the Future: Search is on for the Gibson guitar that was last seen in 1985 Tourism There's a lucrative tourism factor when people shoot films across South Africa. The impact of cinema on tourism is enormous. The fantasy film series The Lord of the Rings significantly contributed to New Zealand's GDP through tourism. The series, which was filmed entirely in Australia, boosted tourism by approximately 50%, generating an estimated NZ$33 million (approximately R600 million) in annual revenue. By 2018, New Zealand welcomed approximately 3.6 million visitors annually, and tourism had become the nation's largest export industry. Speaking to The Citizen in May, actor Brandon Auret stated that South Africa has more to offer tourists than its three largest metropolitan areas: Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. 'My whole big thing is not just about making films, not just about investing in the communities that are in those cities, but opening up the tourism. Getting people to go, 'wow, that movie was shot where?',' says Auret. Elliot couldn't comment on whether there has been a similar demand from local productions to shoot in. Auret has called on Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie to use Trump's 100% tariffs on films made outside the US as an opportunity to invest in the local film industry. 'I'm a firm believer in that when the door is closed, jump through the window,' he said. NOW READ: A spy's story – David Africa's book 'Lives On The Line' thrills
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Scams, trust issues plague secondhand motorcycle market in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's secondhand motorcycle market continues to grapple with trust issues as buyers face growing risks of fraud and a lack of transparency in transactions. chief executive officer Gil Carmo said unlike the used car segment, the motorcycle resale market remains largely informal and often operates without standardised inspection or certification systems. 'With online classifieds and social media enabling easy access to buyers, fraudsters can post seemingly attractive listings, sometimes priced below market value, to lure in victims. 'The lack of traceable sellers and formal platforms allows such scams to persist, and without physical showrooms or accountability, it becomes difficult to take action once buyers are deceived,' he told Bernama. Carmo stressed the importance of buyer education and awareness, noting that red flags often include listings without warranty or return policies, unverified sellers, and prices that appear too good to be true. 'Although efforts are underway by some market players to introduce structured inspections, verified documentation, and post-sale protections, there is still room for the industry to improve buyer safeguards and overall transparency. 'Buyers deserve peace of mind just as much as a good price, and until that becomes the norm, trust will remain the biggest hurdle,' he said. The CEO highlighted several common scams in the market, including odometer tampering, where high-mileage motorcycles are disguised as low-usage units to fetch inflated prices, a practice that continues to trap many unsuspecting buyers. 'Other scams include illegal modifications, forged ownership documents, and sellers who disappear after receiving upfront payments. 'These bikes may come with hidden reliability issues or unresolved financing status, which buyers often only discover when attempting to transfer ownership,' he said. To mitigate such risks, Carmo said his company has implemented several measures, including a 170-point inspection by in-house mechanics, verification of legal documents, and a six-day return policy with a six-month warranty. 'These steps are aimed at giving buyers peace of mind. We also ensure full transparency by using only company-taken photos and videos for listings, and we encourage test rides so buyers know exactly what they're getting,' he added. iMotorbike is a Southeast Asian online platform that facilitates the buying and selling of pre-owned motorcycles, offering services such as inspections, warranties, and financing to ensure a safe and transparent transaction experience. The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) disclosed that total losses from commercial crimes last year amounted to RM3.11 billion, with 41,701 investigation papers initiated. Former CCID director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf revealed that fraud was the most prevalent crime with 73,240 cases resulting in losses exceeding RM2.45 billion. Of this, online fraud accounted for 35,368 cases involving a loss of RM1.57 billion, as reported by Bernama previously.
Malaysiakini
6 days ago
- Malaysiakini
Saifuddin's WhatsApp hacked using foreign VPN: Police
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's WhatsApp account was hacked using a foreign virtual private network (VPN). Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) acting director Hasbullah Ali said that after accessing the minister's WhatsApp, the suspect sent his URLs to all his contacts on the app.
The Sun
6 days ago
- The Sun
Saifuddin Nasution's Whatsapp account hacked using foreign VPN
KUALA LUMPUR: The WhatsApp account of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has been hacked using a foreign virtual private network (VPN). Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) acting director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said that after accessing the minister's WhatsApp account, the suspect sent his URL links to all his contacts on the app. 'So far, there have been no complaints of individuals suffering losses due to the incident. Swift action by the minister's officers, who immediately reported the incident, prevented anyone from being deceived. 'Police are investigating the case under Section 4(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997,' he told a media conference here today. On Monday, the Home Minister's office said the WhatsApp account of Saifuddin Nasution had been hacked and that the matter had been reported to the authorities. In another development, Muhammed Hasbullah said they have busted a phone scam syndicate targeting Japanese nationals following a raid on a three-storey bungalow in Kajang on May 13. He said the raid, by a team from the Bukit Aman CCID, also arrested eight individuals, comprising two Chinese and six Japanese nationals aged between 23 and 56, who operated as the call centre's agents. 'Also seized were seven iPads, one laptop, nine mobile phones, nine modems, one set of scripts and a bunch of keys, with the total seizure estimated at RM25,000,' he said, adding that the raid was a result of intelligence and information gathered regarding the call centre's scam activities. Muhammed Hasbullah said preliminary investigations found that the syndicate had been operating for the past two months posing as the Osaka Police in Japan to deceive victims. 'The syndicate would send messages via short messaging service (SMS) to victims claiming that police had detained individuals involved in fraud cases and found bank cards registered under the victims' names. The victims would then be contacted using a voice call, purportedly for further investigation. 'After being deceived, the victims will be asked to provide personal information and to transfer a certain amount of cash to accounts controlled by the syndicate. After all the information and cash had been obtained, the syndicate will terminate all communications and the victims won't be able to contact them anymore,' he said. He added that the two Chinese nationals detained have been charged under Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1956/63 on May 22, while the six Japanese nationals will be charged on June 3.
Barnama
6 days ago
- Barnama
Saifuddin Nasution's Whatsapp Account Hacked Using Foreign VPN
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) -- The WhatsApp account of Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has been hacked using a foreign virtual private network (VPN). Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) acting director Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali said that after accessing the minister's WhatsApp account, the suspect sent his URL links to all his contacts on the app. "So far, there have been no complaints of individuals suffering losses due to the incident. Swift action by the minister's officers, who immediately reported the incident, prevented anyone from being deceived.
