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After more than 20 years of legal wrangling and red tape, work on the long-awaited Durban Film Studio appears to finally be edging toward reality!
The R7.5 billion Durban Film Studio, planned for the old Natal Command site on Durban’s beachfront, is now closer than ever to breaking ground. According to the latest Mercury report, the Site Framework Plan is being finalised, and a Service Level Agreement is nearing completion.
KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers met with developer Anant Singh last year to help unblock remaining obstacles, including bulk electricity supply and disputed rates. With backing from the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, it’s hoped construction could begin within weeks of final approval of the building plan.
The long road to here
The 21-hectare site was purchased in 2003 through Singh’s company, Rinaldo Investments, but the deal was challenged in court for nearly a decade. The Constitutional Court eventually ruled in Singh’s favour. Further complications arose when the South African National Defence Force attempted to reclaim the land in 2017.
In 2021, the Durban High Court ordered the transfer of the property, clearing a major hurdle. Rezoning was completed in 2022, but bureaucratic delays and municipal processes continued to stall construction. Now, with approvals advancing, the city’s annual report lists the studio as one of its highest-impact catalyst projects.
The visionary behind it: Anant Singh
At the centre of this decades-long effort is Anant Singh, one of South Africa’s most celebrated producers, and the current CEO and chairman of the Videovision Entertainment Group.
Born in Durban, Singh (69) began his career at 18 and went on to produce more than 80 films. His landmark anti-apartheid productions include Place of Weeping, Sarafina! and Cry, the Beloved Country. His film Yesterday earned South Africa its first Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in 2005.
He produced Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, starring Idris Elba, and chairs Cape Town Film Studios, a globally recognised production facility. Singh is a member of the International Olympic Committee and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
A big boost for Durban
A world-class film studio would be transformative for Durban’s economy. The project is expected to generate more than 50,000 temporary jobs and 4,300 permanent positions, while attracting international productions, boosting tourism and stimulating the hospitality and creative industries.
For this culturally rich coastal city with significant cinematic potential, the Durban Film Studio could finally put the city where it belongs: on centre stage!
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