A sign that reads Hollywood coming soon is attracting the attention of motorists driving along Masabalala Yengwa Avenue. The sign is on the fence around the vacant land that is opposite Moses Mabhida Stadium People's Park stadium. The site has been earmarked as part of the proposed multi-billion rand world-class film studio complex that is to be constructed at the former 21-hectare Natal Command defence force site.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo
Hopes are mounting that government intervention could finally unlock progress on plans for a world-class film studio along Durban’s beachfront.
The multi-million rand Durban Film City project has faced a series of setbacks over nearly three decades.
Conceived by renowned producer Anant Singh of Videovision Entertainment, the Durban Film City is earmarked for the old Natal Command site and is positioned as a key high-impact project in the city's annual report.
The annual report stated that the R7.5 billion Durban Film Studio Development is envisaged to be a world-class film studio complemented by tourism and leisure activities, creating over 50,000 temporary jobs and 4,300 permanent jobs.
This week the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) held an update session at the International Convention Centre with the Durban business community. President Cyril Ramaphosa was present while a report back on the work undertaken over the last two years was tabled.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, Singh passionately conveyed his vision for the project.
He said: “There is great potential for Durban, and I do hope that the PeWG can push for the closure of a solution. My passion and my heart are here in Durban. I live here and I want to see it happen.”
Singh said they have been engaging with the Presidential Working Group co-chairs, Mike Mabuyakhulu and Phindile Baleni, but the issue remains the logjams with the City regarding valuation.
He said that in joint action with the City, they went as far as the Constitutional Court over two decades ago and got the land back to the City.
The transfer was done in 2022 and the land's value was between R15 million and R71 million, depending on its use. Within a few months the City decided to set the value at R1 billion.
"They started charging us rates on that. We disputed that because there's no level playing field arrangement with anyone else similar where you are developing over a 15 year period and you got to pay rates on the entire lifespan upfront.
"Clearly the City didn't want this development to proceed on the basis that we had originally pitched so we had to go into a legal mode. At the same time they can't provide electricity and water. We renovated the old Natal Command building and they disconnected the electricity for that one building. It has been a uphill battle," said Singh.
Filmmaker Anant Singh
Image: Supplied
Despite the setbacks, Singh remains optimistic. He told the president and attending officials of the PeWG that he remains hopeful.
"I told the president that I started this idea in 1999, last century and here I am 26 years later still banging the drum.
"It has been frustrating. We filmed Imbewu in the city for five years, spending about R1 billion, yet we have no infrastructure. Meanwhile, our other show House of Zwide, has been shooting in Johannesburg for six years. We have two other shows which are in the working process but I'd like to shoot them here," said Singh.
He said the City approved a site framework plan which is the overall development footprint of what will be done, but another department within the City objected.
Singh said they restored the old building at a cost of R100-million and upgraded the whole precinct.
"We hoping to announce something in the next few months once we resolve the electricity and water supply for that section so we can start doing stuff.
Singh said the signage that was put up around the film studio precint which read Hollywood coming soon, was to stake their claim as they thought they were making good progress after getting the site framework planned approved in January, only to learn later that there was an objection to the approval.
Mabuyakhulu in his address this week said that there are areas that need attention, adding that some are complex but that they will be able to facilitate those, which included the Durban Film Studio project.
"We are working hard to ensure it receives our attention so we can then facilitate it. Within the new approach we'll then build the synergies between what this initiative has already been doing and towards the next phase in what business is also thinking they should have a much more greater role in this initiative," said Mabuyakhulu.
Ramaphosa said the film industry is very key and important.
"Anant Singh is right; a film season brings in $200 million in just one season which is happening in the studios in Cape Town. We need to open another studio here and he's been working on it for years.
"He has given me an updated report which I will read. We need to support him. He even had to go to court because of the various bottlenecks, precisely those issues that I said I want us to get rid of," said Ramaphosa.