NAME: Durban Film City
LOCATION: North Beach
STATUS: Planning
FLOORS: N/A
HEIGHT: ???
USE: Mixed Use, Primarily Film production facilities, entertainment venues and Taj Hotel Tower


Anant Singh, the chief executive of Videovision, the film production and distribution group, has sold its Kagiso Media stake. Singh said it would plough the proceeds into the development of its Durban film studio and a movie based on Nelson Mandela's autobiography.

Between October and December Videovision sold its 9 percent stake in Kagiso Media for R110 million. After settling debt and other commitments, Videovision cleared just under R58 million from the sale. The debt was incurred when the shares were bought in 1996.

Singh said this week: "We have a lot of activities on the go and these need substantial funding. The Natal Command site, which will be developed into a film studio, will be several hundred million rands worth of activity. We are also planning to shoot [Nelson Mandela's autobiography] Long Walk to Freedom this year."

Singh expects construction on the film studio Durban Film City to begin in March. But this will depend on the resolution of outstanding legal issues.
Karamchand Gayadin's Giant Concerts has opposed the sale of the site to Singh, saying the process was flawed.

Singh paid an initial R15 million for Natal Command on the Durban beachfront, which some people thought should have been sold for closer to R100 million. Depending on how the site is developed, the price could escalate to R71 million. Durban Film City, which will include film production facilities and live entertainment venues, will cost over R700 million. Singh said other investors would be taken on but he still has to take the project to the market.

"The legal issue will be resolved next month," Singh said. Videovision, in partnership with e.tv, is also planning a film studio in Cape Town to be called Dreamworld, which is planned to cost R400 million.

Long Walk to Freedom, which is an epic motion picture based on Nelson Mandela's autobiography, is expected to cost R200 million and will be released on the circuit in mid-2007. The film will star US actor Morgan Freeman.

Videovision has produced 64 feature films since its first movie, The Place of Weeping, which was made in 1984. Yesterday Kagiso shares gained 2.16 percent to R14.20. The media and entertainment sector firmed by 1.82 percent.

i dont trust singh but i hope it goes just like the ct one

i know anant well.............so be careful :)

I think his reputation preceeds him. I think of him as another schabir shaik, all talk and no action. I supose only time will tell if he can deliver or will it be another ANC cronie deal that falls flat on its face and ends up in court for years (think point waterfront, blouberg land deal etc)

Mate i've seen the plans, i've spoken to him and its anything but pie in the sky. He is going to develop the site to the same scale and intensity as he is doing with his involvement in the Pearls. He has already secured over R1bn in investment money for the additional (non film) aspects of the development from middle-eastern firms. the Taj hotel is merely one of a number of buildings for the site, which will include a theatre complex, studio tours, hotels and obviously the production facilties set away from the prime beachfront zone.

mike, when is this due to break ground? has natal command moved yet? will it be exactly on the NC site facing batery beach

haha breaking ground! anant is to busy with pearls as dysan said his got this on his plate and the one in cape town

well it will have to be finnished for 2010 so planning has to start now, dont want an unsightly incomplete project when the world is watching, besides with like 4 billion people watching, Im sure he is thinking of massive free publisity

^^ I know Anant, & believe me most of the time, wat he says is wat he does.
I am sure planning has begun, but with all these legal issues surrounding the sale of the property is holding back the start process.

it is progressing well. The design framework is complete. plans are ready fro submission, but until the court case is dropped or concluded, nothing much can happen. and it will be complete by 2010. it is planned to only take 18 months to construct the first phase

what is the court case about?. who vs who?

what is the court case about?. who vs who?
Videovision VS some pissed off ppl, u how it goes wid us indians, we bargin everything! SO Anant got the property at a steal of 15million or sumthing around that figure. Look @ the size of that property! & its on the beach!!!!
15 million is more than a steal, so ppl think that the deal was done corruptly & say that, that piece of land should hav been sold @ a much higher price..round about 100 mill or more.

Related news...

--------------------

DFO Training Indaba
07 March 2006

Key film industry players are to meet in Durban this month at a time of unprecedented growth for the city's film industry. High on their agenda will be thrashing out strategies to take maximum advantage of the boom.

The Durban Film Office (DFO) will host the 2006 Film & Television Training Indaba at Suncoast Casino on 16 and 17 March. The Durban film industry has experienced a phenomenal 41% growth in production activity over the past three years, from big budget Hollywood blockbusters, to a steady stream of local and international commercials and features.


It's clear that Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province’s film friendly reputation is spreading like wildfire. The economic spin-offs have been huge, with hundreds of millions of rands estimated to have been injected into the local economy. Says the DFO’s CEO Mandle Ndimande. "This is a perfect time for key role players to meet and discuss strategies to gain maximum advantage from all the local and international film activity in the region."


The Durban Film Office is the film promotion arm of the eThekwini Municipality.Lively exchanges are guaranteed with topics like the pros and cons of applying the controversial Nigerian film model to the local industry and the ongoing debate over film versus High Definition (HD) formats.


Also sure to come under the spotlight will the perceived gap between Durban training levels and actual skills required on film productions, with national and international standards pushing the bar higher with every production. Related to this is the topic of how to increase the numbers of Durban cast and crew employed on locally filmed foreign and South African productions.


"The office is thrilled by the success of the BAFTA nomination of the short film Lucky. The film was shot entirely in Durban using local crew and cast, some with first time experience, and that has assured the international players of the film industry that Durban is more than capable of handling world class productions,” said Ndimande. But there remains a perception among Cape Town and Johannesburg production companies that Durban lacked experience and skills.


"This not only limits opportunities for the local industry, but also acts as a deterrent to filming in Durban due to the added cost of providing accommodation and travel for Cape Town and Johannesburg production services. We are confident that this Indaba will prove a turning point in Durban's relationship with the wider South African film industry. This is an ideal opportunity for interested and qualified people to make a contribution to the future of film in this city and province," noted Ndimande.


PROGRAMME

The 2006 Film & Television Training Indaba will provide local production services, training providers and students an opportunity to workshop the issue of skills development with key organizations such as the Commercial Producers Association, National Film & Video Foundation, South African Scriptwriters Association, Association for Cinematographers South Africa and the MAPPP Seta. The Indaba will run for two days and will include presentations from key role-players and panel discussions.

Issues to be discussed include:

Skills Development and the National Skills Framework - Upgrading existing skills and addressing past imbalances.
Training Providers - Creating a register of existing providers and program's on offer.
Skills Diversity - Establishing industry needs in terms of technical training and business skills.
Setting the Standard - Accreditation and recognition of acquired skills and knowledge.
Access - Focusing on the cost of training.
Format - Film vs. HD and the applicability of the Nigerian film model in the Durban context.


OBJECTIVES AND CONCEPT

The main objective behind the concept is to firstly encourage the local industry to create and maintain a platform from which industry can voice its needs and challenges to local and national government organizations and to address the need for a unified strategy in terms of skills development in the sector. Secondly, to invite key role-players to acknowledge training needs in our local industry within the National context.


The Durban Film & Television Training Indaba aim is to:

Further develop and promote the film and television industry and support the growth of and access to the industry on both the local and national platforms.
Inspire the local industry (film, television & multimedia) and aspirant youths to learn and make use of available opportunities within the industry.
Tackle issues pertaining to the development of the film industry and challenges facing the local film sector.
To encourage the provision of opportunities for persons to get involved in the film and television industry, in particular, persons from previously disadvantaged communities.
For programme and registration details, please contact

Toni Monty

Phone 27 31 336 2680

Fax 27 31 336 2633

toni@durbanfilmoffice.com

www.durbanfilmoffice.com

http://www.screenafrica.com/xComponents/xIndustryNews/default.aspx?CWXQ=CWX-23TF240rh3iTmEhrhBib

Somebody Goolam is against the deal. The R15 million is the base price. Anant has to pay proportionally more if he uses the site for other reasons than film production. therefore the entertainment, retail and hotel components will greatly push up the price to R75m. but until this other guy attains a result in the case or settles, nothing will happen

^^Whos Goolam? I am too lazy to read that whole article!
If he is against it, then lets lock him away far away, so they can develop that land
& let him out when everything is done

Important news brief just published...

-------------------
Film City all set

Work is expected to start at the proposed Durban Film City in the next six months, movie mogul Anant Singh told a conference yesterday.

http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=49&fArticleId=3163867

------------------------------------

Does this mean the legal wrangling is over??

------------------

All systems go for Durban Film City
March 17, 2006

By Barbara Cole

The scene is expected to be set for work to start at the proposed Durban Film City on the Natal Command site in the next six months.

A legal problem - an objection - that has held up the development of the beachfront project, is expected to be resolved in the next 4-6 weeks, movie mogul Anant Singh, who is behind the project, told the Film and Television Indaba at Suncoast Casino yesterday.

The project, which will cost just under R1 billion, will go up in phases and the first stage, a sound studio, will be ready by December, 2007, Singh said.

A parallel development which will be ready at the same time, will include an area where the public will be able to walk through a movie set - similar to what is available at Universal Studios in America - which will be a "combination of Bollywood and Hollywood and whatever else in between" to get an experience of how movies are made.

They will also be able to "play out" a scene with a trainee actor to find out what it is like to be in a film. And they would be able to take home a souvenir video of their experience.

Experience

Singh was also considering setting up a film school at the Durban Film City, he told the indaba, which is being hosted by the Durban Film Office, the film promotion arm of eThekwini Municipality.

Interns who studied at the school would also be able to get all-important practical experience at the studio. Singh said he had offered the Durban Film Office a free office at the site. Others in the industry would also be able to hire out offices.


"We want to make this a base for the industry in Durban," he said.

Durban had "tremendous potential" and the film industry had never been in better shape, he said. The 2010 World Soccer Cup would present many opportunities for the industry, he predicted.

Most of the camera people who worked on the recent A1 Grand Prix were from outside the province and "we must change that" to develop our own talents, he said.

One delegate, Ayla Rambarran, said: "We have Hollywood and Bollywood. Now it's time for Dollywood."

Another delegate shouted from the back of the hall that she should patent the name. City Manager, Dr Michael Sutcliffe, called on people to put their egos aside to grow the industry and build the skills base.

The problem was that the industry had to import people with even relatively low skills. He then called on allied industries - car hire companies and hotels - "to come to the party" to keep prices down and "not to be greedy."

Talking about the 2010 Soccer World Cup, he said that the expenditure from the city - acting as a conduit for the government - would be R5 billion. A flyover would have to be built in Warwick Avenue to deal with traffic.

http://www.dailynews.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=500&fArticleId=3163558

Good news indeed! R1 billion? sounds good...i wonder what all the things they are to develop will be? Will be a great new addition to the cities offering, and if the planned hotel and restaurant component occur, we will have a nice node developing there, with Suncoast next door.

hmmm...guess the court case is taking longer than thought...what a pity cos this will develop into a damn nice zone once it gets underway.

Durban: Place Of Plenty For Film Makers

08 January, 2008


Film Friendly: The Bay of Plenty production team at work on the Durban beachfront

By Hlobisile Mbokazi

Durban’s growing reputation as a dream filmmaking location has been further cemented by the success of the local television series, Bay Of Plenty. Durban secured the series, screened on Wednesday evenings on SABC1, largely through the efforts of the Durban Film Office, the film promotion arm of the eThekwini Municipality. It has provided a showcase, not only for the city, but for local talent. All the actors and crew were South African and many were also from Durban.

Producer Laurette Marais was full of praise for Durban as a film location. “There is an enthusiasm about film making in Durban that you will not find in Cape Town or Johannesburg. “It is exciting, visually stunning and easy to work here. “There is no other location in this country, or even the UK or US, that offers the kind of support that Durban gave us on the production of Bay of Plenty,” Marais said.

The series caps a busy year for the Film Office which was involved in co-ordinating several big local projects including e-tv’s The Biggest Loser, an international television series Rough, and a three-part mini series, Land of Thirst, which will be broadcast on SABC early next year and later turned into a feature film. The office’s film coordinator, Toni Monty, said: “We could not have asked for a better opportunity to promote the region as a world class film production destination than with the filming of Blood Diamond in late 2006. Durban and KwaZulu-Natal have proved time and again that our local industry has the capacity to host a production of this magnitude and the amount of publicity the region received post production stands testament to the PR value of the production industry.”

The Film Office recently launched a showreel of locally produced commercials intended to showcase work that demonstrates the production capacity of the local industry. It will become the centre piece of several campaigns targeting film decision makers locally and internationally. It also aims to promote Durban as an exciting city to work and play in, with a vibrant lifestyle and picture-perfect locations.

i dont trust singh but i hope it goes just like the ct one

I don't trust him either .... But he is a cronie/mogul with money to make things happen...

I've heard several negative stories about him... from steam-rolling upcoming productions companies, to stealing film-makers ideas... and there was some big controvercy in 2000 when Tourism KZN gave a couple million rand to Videovision to produce a special Durban/KZN film linked to celebrating the then 'New Millenium'... But Singh's company sub-contracted the deal to a small production company and paid them about R60 000 - R100 000's for it and pocketed the rest....

BUT, 'unfortunately' - people with money and connections can make things happen... (Singh, Vivian Reddy, Mzi Khumalo, Keith Wakefield ect ect) Their profile means that when things are a bit underhanded or suspicious, people are quick to complain

Like him or not... Singh is certainly going to make things happen in Durban - it's his home-town afterall...

IN FACT HE IS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN THIS WEEK... The Mercury had a front page story today saying that the sequel to SA's biggest local box-office success - Mr Bones 2 will be shot on location in DURBAN...

Will try to get the internet link... can't find anything yet...

I don't trust him either .... But he is a cronie/mogul with money to make things happen...

I've heard several negative stories about him... from steam-rolling upcoming productions companies, to stealing film-makers ideas... and there was some big controvercy in 2000 when Tourism KZN gave a couple million rand to Videovision to produce a special Durban/KZN film linked to celebrating the then 'New Millenium'... But Singh's company sub-contracted the deal to a small production company and paid them about R60 000 - R100 000's for it and pocketed the rest....

BUT, 'unfortunately' - people with money and connections can make things happen... (Singh, Vivian Reddy, Mzi Khumalo, Keith Wakefield ect ect) Their profile means that when things are a bit underhanded or suspicious, people are quick to complain

Like him or not... Singh is certainly going to make things happen in Durban - it's his home-town afterall...

IN FACT HE IS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN THIS WEEK... The Mercury had a front page story today saying that the sequel to SA's biggest local box-office success - Mr Bones 2 will be shot on location in DURBAN...

Will try to get the internet link... can't find anything yet...


LEON SCHUSTER’S “MR. BONES 2” TO BE FILMED IN DURBAN
Durban based producer, Anant Singh announced today that the sequel to the hit comedy, Mr Bones will be shot on location in Durban.
Singh also announced that auditions were underway for local actors to co-star with Leon Schuster, South Africa’s Number One Movie Star.

One of the most appealing things about Mr Bones is the transposition of characters from their regular environments to other exotic locations. Following this broad theme, Mr Bones 2 will see the character in locations around Durban and have a strong Indian flavour. This tapestry provides a great deal of material for interesting gags that enhances the comedy of the film. The film will begin shooting in Durban next month.

The Mr Bones 2 production team conducted an extensive recce of the city of Durban and surrounding areas and an interesting selection of venues have been identified as locations for the film. Among the locations being evaluated are the Grey Street Precinct, the Indian Market, and the northern coastline.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the shoot of Mr Bones 2 to Durban,” said Anant Singh. “The diversity of locations available in and around the city made Durban the ideal location for the film. Leon Schuster and director Gray Hofmeyr have co-written a really hilarious script which will undoubtedly become the top film of 2008 in South Africa. Leon has always wanted to shoot a film in Durban and the last two films we did with him, Mr Bones was shot in Sun City and Johannesburg, and Mama Jack was shot in Cape Town. Bringing Mr Bones 2 to Durban is part of our plan to ensure that the City is actively promoted as a shooting location. We are committed to growing the film industry in South Africa and Durban is a location that has been marginally used,” continued Singh.
Mr Bones 2 is the third feature film collaboration between Singh and Schuster and other films include Mama Jack and Mr Bones which is the Highest Grossing South African film of all time, having earned more than R33 million at the South African boxoffice.
Mr Bones 2 will be released nationally on Friday, 28 November 2008 by Videovision Entertainment through United International Pictures.

* SOURCE: http://www.videovision.co.za/press/press162.html

ALSO ON:
Filmmaker South Africa : Film Production in Cape Town ... Leon Schuster's Mr. Bones 2 to be filmed in Durban 23/01/2008 15:33 Durban based producer, Anant Singh announced today that the sequel to the hit comedy, ...
www.filmmaker.co.za/ - 74k - Cached - Similar pages

Durban FilmCity pics

COMING SOON
to a skyscrapercity.com site near you!!!

* the location on Durban's Golden Mile is stunning!!!

I don't trust him either .... But he is a cronie/mogul with money to make things happen...

I've heard several negative stories about him... from steam-rolling upcoming productions companies, to stealing film-makers ideas... and there was some big controvercy in 2000 when Tourism KZN gave a couple million rand to Videovision to produce a special Durban/KZN film linked to celebrating the then 'New Millenium'... But Singh's company sub-contracted the deal to a small production company and paid them about R60 000 - R100 000's for it and pocketed the rest....

BUT, 'unfortunately' - people with money and connections can make things happen... (Singh, Vivian Reddy, Mzi Khumalo, Keith Wakefield ect ect) Their profile means that when things are a bit underhanded or suspicious, people are quick to complain

Like him or not... Singh is certainly going to make things happen in Durban - it's his home-town afterall...

IN FACT HE IS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN THIS WEEK... The Mercury had a front page story today saying that the sequel to SA's biggest local box-office success - Mr Bones 2 will be shot on location in DURBAN...

Will try to get the internet link... can't find anything yet...

not too sure about he making things happen, sees fuck all on the studiocity and I first heard about it when I was still living in Durban and that was like 12 years ago, another connected political friend of the rulling class with more to say than what he can actually deliver.

Plus Singhs hardly in Durban these days, most of his mates havent seen him in months or years, so I cant even fish out anything. Though his wifes doing alot for the city in the fashion world, last year she held a very succesfull MTN fashion week at Suncoast.

not too sure about he making things happen, sees fuck all on the studiocity and I first heard about it when I was still living in Durban and that was like 12 years ago, another connected political friend of the rulling class with more to say than what he can actually deliver.

The filmcity is not being held up by him, but by the court case between him and vivian reddy over the land.

so its 2 well connected chaps fighting it out shame the rulling class will have to decide between one of its 2 mates

lol, classic this ones gona be good, but I can imagine Anant will come out on top.

Durban FilmCity pics

COMING SOON
to a skyscrapercity.com site near you!!!

* the location on Durban's Golden Mile is stunning!!!

I was just pulling your legs here guys.....
re pics
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/NatalCommand.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/DurbanFilmCitySite.jpg
this prime location is indeed stunning... but you guys must have thought my pics were the renders....


any way look cool, enjoy ;-)

Is it my imagination or are very few of these exciting projects we see for Durban actually getting off the ground?

what a waste to put on prime tourist revenue generating hospitality resort land, film studion with its massive sound stages should be in an industrial area
this should be a great new resort type hotle complex

Agreed, SA Boy. What's even worse is that the land is being wasted even before the film studio waste gets under way! This film studio project has slipped totally off the radar - even the court case that Mike mentions every few months is off the radar; Mike's the only one who even seems to remember it! :lol: So the land just sits idle from an economic perspective. I doubt the film studio ever gets built, and in the mean time valuable land will have been wasted on a now useless military garrison.

Any updates?

as per my last post this is still held up in a monster legal battle

An image of the proposed development... does anyone know who we can contact to find out what is happening with the legal battle?



http://www.videovision.co.za/images/development/durban2.jpg

http://www.videovision.co.za/images/development/durban.jpg

This is an old article, but shows how long in planning the 3 SA Taj hotels have been. This one on the Durban beachfront is tied up in the court battle. until the land is release no development can take place. its so frustrating

Indian Hotels to develop 3 hotels in S Africa

P R Sanjai in Johannesburg


April 25, 2006 02:21 IST

Indian Hotels Company, which runs the Taj chain of hotels, will increase its presence in South Africa by developing one luxury hotel each in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

The total cost of the projects, which will add 550 rooms to the hotel chain in the African continent, is estimated at $180 million. IHCL has formed a 50:50 joint venture with Tata Africa, Taj International (SA) Pty. The joint venture will invest in individual hotel projects with local developers.

"Indian Hotels will manage the five-star hotels which will bear the Taj brand. The company is only finalising the projects with our core developers," said Tata Africa General Manager (New Business Development) Sunil Kapur.

The projects are likely to be over in 18 to 24 months. The joint venture is expected to invest about $20 million in equity. The financial closure for these projects is under finalisation. The company has already a hotel in Lusaka, Zambia named Pamodzi Hotel.

According to analysts, foreign arrivals in South Africa are over six million per annum. However, there is a dearth of luxury accommodation in the country, they pointed out.

Indian Hotels and Developer Eurocape Investments Ltd will jointly develop the luxury hotel at Mandela Rhodes, Cape Town. The project will have 200 rooms and options for residences. The site is a historical building and is next to Parliament and Mandela Rhodes Foundation. The proposed hotel in Durban Film City will have 200 guest rooms with 40 serviced residences.

"We could develop this project with VideoVision Entertainment. The proposed site is in close proximity to the International Convention Centre, the Cricket, football and rugby stadia," Kapur said.

IHCL has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Melrose Arch Development Company to jointly develop high-end five-star hotel in Johannesburg.

"The location of the proposed project is strategic in nature, midway through Johannesburg Central Business District and Sandton city," Kapur added.

The size of it is FAR larger than i previously thought.

When this finally gets the go ahead and suncoast develops its towers and retail component, this area will actually be a fantastic tourist node

^^ this kinds of projects are the ones were I sometimes think bribery should work so that they go through. Why don't all these people think like us. Legal battle from 2006? That's insane.

^^ Yip, a developer is sueing the city due to the sale price Videovision paid and the fact he would have been prepared to pay more if the process had been open and transparent. Its a toughy to call

Tough indeed, but let's be posetive.

Haven't seen this before. Thanks for posting.That looks like a massive pier / mini island opposite the site!!

Like th V&A sale, any corruption or irregularities must be investigated.

I'm also guessing another developer might have put it to better use than as a film studio... and actually turned it into a 1st class tourist place like it deserves to be.

its a film studio, theme park and retail development with a hotel and apartments. what else would u want for the zone?

The film studio just seems a bit of a waste on the site, like was mentioned earlier, that kind of thing would be better in an industrial area.

But thats just my impression of course, because I don't see a big film studio as a major tourist puller..

An image of the proposed development... does anyone know who we can contact to find out what is happening with the legal battle?

http://www.videovision.co.za/images/development/durban2.jpg

http://www.videovision.co.za/images/development/durban.jpg

This is an old article, but shows how long in planning the 3 SA Taj hotels have been. This one on the Durban beachfront is tied up in the court battle. until the land is release no development can take place. its so frustrating

...

"The location of the proposed project is strategic in nature, midway through Johannesburg Central Business District and Sandton city," Kapur added.

MOVIE MAGIC, Great! - But, questionable? for me because

That land behind Natal Command and extending behind Suncoast and its parking lot was not purchased as part of the deal by Videovision...

That's the highly strategic land near Moses M Stadium that was once used for dusty motorbike races... I think the city owns it ... and apparently wants to put the Olympic athletes village there if it gets the Olympics in the furture ...(2020)

But both Anant and the city are keeping a lot below the radar... They def are talking behind the scenes about much bigger plans as this render reveals... cos the city people were also looking at that bare piece of land for the IBC for 2010 if Durban was successful... (they wanted national gov to locate the IBC in the city (with funding from the the communication dep) has a broadcast legacy project from 2010 but we know how centrist and narrow minded national gov can be)

We know the 2010 IBC has been awarded to Joburg... However I get the feeling the city wants a significant media broadcast facility in Durban - cos right now Durban & KZN are at a disadvantage with Etv (Cape) and SABC, DSTV, Telkom Media (all Joburg)...

this seems to be inline with planning for 2020... getting all their ducks in a row?

^^ the IBC was planned for the old drive inn site if i remember correctly and not that site in the renders above. Either way there is def alot of behind the scenes chatting on the go

Still held up in court action

Lights, camera ... but still no action
Apr 4, 2010 12:00 AM | By Paddy Harper

R700m film studio stalled by empty promises, litigation

TEBOGO LETSIE

Seven years after movie mogul Anant Singh promised Durban ratepayers a lucrative, R700-million, Hollywood-style, beachfront film studio, the prime site sits abandoned and derelict.

Far from the much-vaunted film site, the 23-hectare former Natal Command army site, still under city control, is used as an access point to the new 2010 Moses Mabhida Stadium. The rest of the time its crumbling military buildings and rusting armoured vehicles play host to vagrants.

This week Singh and city manager Mike Sutcliffe threw up a wall of secrecy around the project, which was motivated by the city and Singh in 2001 and endorsed by the Durban Executive Committee in 2003. Both refused to divulge any details about the future of the project, delayed by a High Court challenge from a rival bidder, Durban businessman Sunny Gayadin.

Neither would explain why the land was being used for the stadium or who was responsible for the costs of its upkeep while awaiting judgment in Gayadin's bid to overturn the deal. They were also mum on whether rumours that Singh could no longer raise international capital to invest in the studio project were valid.

Speculation has been rife in city business circles that the international economic downturn, combined with escalating building costs and Singh's own commitments in his Dreamworld Film City in Cape Town, as well as the Pearls of Umhlanga residential development, may mean there is no money for the project.

Singh was given the land by the city for R15-million, around 20% of its book value. This sparked several objections, with Gayadin seeking an order in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to stop the sale.

In 2005, Singh went on record saying the project construction would start in September 2005 and take between six and nine months to complete. It was to provide filmmakers with three sound stages and post-production facilities.

A second phase, including leisure facilities, was to have been completed by 2007. It was to have been funded by Singh and unnamed investors.

Creative Kingdom consultants - who designed the Palace of the Lost City and Durban's loss-making uShaka Marine World - were engaged to design the studios.

Gayadin this week refused to comment, while both Sutcliffe and Singh said they were awaiting the outcome of the court case.

Singh said his Videovision Entertainment "remains committed to the film-studio development in keeping with our initial plans".

"We advised you previously that we are awaiting the result of the court hearing and that we are bound by confidentiality," Singh said.

Sutcliffe also questioned the Sunday Times's interest in the seven-year delay in the project getting off the ground.

"In brief we are all awaiting the outcome of the court case. The property remains in our ownership until at least then,'' Sutcliffe said.

Neither would say whether Singh had paid the city the R15-million as yet.

Toni Monty of the Durban Film Office said, as far as she knew, the project would be "picked up on" after the legal dispute was settled.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article385080.ece/Lights--camera-...-but-still-no--action

Well, at least they have given an indication that their original intentions (of turning the site into a film studio) still stands. I wonder why that court case is taking so damn long.

Well the place has been given a lick of paint at least for 2010 while the dispute continues

Looks like this deal is dead............

http://sundaytribune.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

STUDIO DEAL SUNK

Judge slams ‘contaminated’ Singh sale City council not ‘even-handed’

THE sale of the Natal Command site on Durban’s beachfront to film-maker Anant Singh has been set aside by the Pietermartizburg High Court, which handed down a highly critical judgment this week declaring the deal null and void.

Delivering his ruling on Thursday, Judge Jerome Mnguni said he found the sale process “had been contaminated” and ordered the city and the MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs to pay the costs of the court application to reverse the sale.

The application was brought by businessman Karamchand “Sunny” Gayadin in 2005, less than two years after the controversial sale of the 21ha site went through in December 2003.

There were howls of protest from opposition parties at the sale price of R15 million.

At the time Singh promised a R700m film studio.

Yesterday municipal manager Michael Sutcliffe said he would present a report on the latest developments to the executive committee at its first meeting following Tuesday’s sitting of the full council – this would probably be on October 5 or 12.

Municipal treasurer Krish Kumar said Singh’s company had not paid any money to the city as payment was dependent on the deal going through.

Now it is back to the drawing board for the strategically-located beachfront property, which was once the headquarters of the SANDF in KwaZuluNatal, but has been deemed surplus to requirements.

Opposition parties and property developers have called on the municipality to put the building to its best possible use.

Neels Brink, project director of the Durban Point Waterfront Company, said a rough price comparison could be done between the Natal Command site and beachfront land at the Point, although this was difficult because the property market was depressed now and most sales at the Point occurred in a bullish market.

The Point site is 55ha versus the 21ha Natal Command site.

If Natal Command were developed tomorrow, about half the land would have to be used for roads and public open spaces. If the balance of the land sold for R2 000/m based on an estimate of what the Point development fetched, it is worth about R210m.

But, this depends on there being somebody with deep enough pockets to develop it, and there being a market for it.

Brink said the city would have to think carefully about what it did with the site and suggested the council put out a master plan for development and invite public comment.

On the city’s valuation of the site, Kumar said it was “entirely dependent on its usage”.

Democratic Alliance caucus leader Tex Collins said: “Now the land can be put on the market – if indeed it is going to be sold – at a price that is directly related to market value and not given away to a crony of the African National Congress.”

He was referring to the decision to sell the property to Rinaldo Investments, in which Singh has a share, for below market value.

“This goes to the very heart of the tendering process in the city and shows the flaws. From the judgment, clearly our city is at fault.”

yup read this too. hopefully it will force the city to think in the future. also it will hopefully mean more consultation on the development of this land. at least one hotel is key, but being where it is it is so strategic for a sports development in some way to dove tail with the olympic aspirations. lets see what happens in the months ahead.

Good to see some clarification / news about this site. While the Film City may be lost, it may not necessarily be a bad thing as it does open the site to many other exciting opportunities, especially with a possible Olympic bid in the pipeline. The future use of that site should now be viewed more strategically by the council in light of its Olympic aspirations, given the site's size. It's almost 40% of the Point Waterfront precinct! Didn't realise it was that big. I like the idea of dividing up the site and setting aside part of it for a public park. Another green spot in the city would be great. If the ICC complex had not already been constructed, this would have been an awesome site for it.

I think part of the site should definitely be set aside for a hotel component / resort.

who pays costs? lets hope its not the rate payers and lets hope that someones head rolls for this, ooh wait comrade sutters is untouchable as always.

i mean how many low cost houses could be built for a market value auction sale of the land

tragic its taken this long and we are ony just starting again

& all the years it lay wasted when something could have been built on that prime piece of land.

^^ well in essence it is the best outcome as now they are forced to think more strategically about the land and their actions in the future. It is not the right place for film studios, they could be better off tucked somewhere else in the city and if Anant so true to his word about doing that in Durban he would have investigated other sites if this went south...

Thats true, well lets hope something good gets put on this prime land.

I'm curious to see what the proposed master plan will be...

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City accepts Naval Command ruling

28 October 2010 - 12:02

Author: Lauren Holley

Durban city authorities will not appeal a High Court ruling that prevented the sale of land which was to be used for the construction of a major film studio on the beachfront.

The Durban High Court recently declared the sale of the former Natal Command army site to a company owned by film-maker Anant Singh, null and void.

An application was brought against eThekwnini municipality by a rival bidder after the property was sold for R15-million rand, an alleged 20% of its book value.

eThekwini's Thabo Mofokeng says after consulting with their legal team, the municipality's Executive Committee has decided not to pursue the matter further.

He says they recognise that it is prime property which needs to be redeveloped.

"What is going to happen now is that the city manager, Dr Michael Sutcliffe, will be drawing up a master plan for that area in terms of deciding how to best utilise it.

"As you know, that part is part of the Moses Mabhida precinct, and the other option would be to look at what economic projects could be developed in that area


http://www.ecr.co.za/kagiso/content/en/east-coast-radio/east-coast-radio-mobile-news?oid=965650&sn=Mobile+news+detail&pid=171901

like wise, but they wont make it public too soon.