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Just a year ago, the Fish River Resort near Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape, was hosting an International Film Crew of 48 people.
It was looking at a R500 million upgrade that included a world class film studio.
The resort, which belongs to the Prudhoe Community, was run by a company called MahalaX, which was also responsible for bringing in investors.
The upgrade was set to unlock a new revenue stream for the site, the community, and surrounding areas. June 2022 saw the beginning of the shooting of Survivor SA Season 9 at the resort.
But the plan came to a halt barely two months into the partnership when a faction of the community trust seeking to direct and mediate benefits occupied the resort and evicted 48 members of the international film crew.
MahalaX was unable to meet its financial commitment to the Prudhoe Trust and was forced to abandon it.
Reggie Ngcobo, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, said the department was no longer involved in the running of the resort but explained the deal.
“We are aware that the Prudhoe community, through their trust, entered into a lease with a company called MahalaX for the use of the property,” he said.
“The company had intended to set up a film studio on site. The community concluded the deal on its own, and the department was not part of the arrangement.”
Pictured above: The entrance to the Fish River Resort
Image source: Supplied
