Albert Schweitzer is the subject of a movie being shot in Port St Johns. The movie crew and hangers on number close to two hundred and the town is full with restaurants and pubs all benefitting from the party vibe that descends once work is over for the day.

Known for his humanitarian work and also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Schweitzer would be happy to see the opportunities for locals on the movie set and also the hustle and bustle going on around this normally laid back little cowboy town.

Reconstructing Lambaréné Hospital, built by Schweitzer in Gabon took time to plan and long hours of sweat and toil but it is paying off with shooting taking place at Fairview farm just outside of town near the Isinuka springs and next to the Umzimvubu river.

White Lights, a movie about warchildren in Uganda was recently wrapped here in Port St Johns and there is talk of more movies being made here with the ideal location; rural, hills and coastline but the logistics of transporting entire movie sets is a bit of a nightmare.

There should be more involvement from all the stakeholders in the Transkei as the benefits trickle down to all the communities with cash injected into the local economy.

Schweitzer and his ‘reverence for life’ would have found a place for PSJ and built ideas to make it grow and prosper. The tropical and semi tropical climate along the Transkei coast allied with the unspoilt nature and the wild coastline are ideal for movies and more should be done to entice international and South African crews here. This is where Provincial government can make a contribution to increasing the tourist potential of this forgotten part of South Africa.