Latest news with #NatalCommand
TimesLIVE
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Anant Singh complains to ANC about eThekwini's 'sabotage' of film studios
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has vowed to act against eThekwini municipality officials who might be implicated in an apparent sabotage of world-renowned film producer Anant Singh's R7.5bn film studios. Singh acquired the old Natal Command defence force building along the North Beach in 2022 to make an investment of R7.5bn for the development of film and television studios and related sectors in Durban. However, the project has been stalled because the city has not yet installed water and electricity in the building, which Singh had renovated. Instead the city revalued the same property to R1bn, which Singh said was way higher than when he bought the property for R71m in 2022. Singh said this meant he would need to pay higher rates yet the building was unusable because there was no water or electricity. Speaking at the ANC engagement meeting with businesses in Durban on Tuesday, Singh told the ANC leaders that after fighting for more than 20 years to acquire the property, which he eventually received three years ago, he did not understand why eThekwini officials were sabotaging such a huge investment that would create jobs in the city. Singh said he was forced to buy a generator because the city has refused to install electricity, adding that the city has recently demanded more than R400,000 just to install an electricity meter. 'I have already lost two TV shows worth R200m which had to be recorded in Johannesburg because my studios are not yet complete because of eThekwini's inept attitude,' he said. ANC provincial task team convener Jeff Radebe expressed shock that Singh's project had not taken off, promising that the ANC would launch an investigation to find out what was happening. 'We will definitely act against the people in the city that would be found responsible for Singh's project delay,' said Radebe. eThekwini municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said: 'Since the allegations are related to a contractual matter regarding the installation of bulk infrastructure services (water and electricity), legal advice will have to be sought before responding.' Sisilana said a dispute regarding the municipal valuation of the property has been lodged by the property owner. 'However, as this matter is subject to a formal dispute resolution process in terms of the Municipal Property Rates Act, the municipality is not able to comment further at this stage. 'The matter will be adjudicated in accordance with the applicable legal framework,' said Sisilana. She said the municipal leadership has an open-door policy and continues to engage various stakeholders including business leaders on pertinent matters for the benefit of the city and its residents.
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Anant Singh's long walk to the studio
South African filmmaker, Anant Singh. Image: File. THERE are probably very few in our country today who know more about Hollywood than Durban businessman and movie mogul Anant Singh. He's been there, done it all and he's got the T-shirt. As producer of more than 80 films since 1984 - including classics like Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom and Cry The Beloved Country - Singh has won a host of international awards and today rubs shoulders with such stars as Idris Elba, Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones and Hillary Swank. Last week, we got a chance to meet the new Anant Singh - the consummate actor. My guess is that he picked up these new skills through his close association with such Hollywood a-listers. Delivering an Oscar-worthy performance before a group of ANC big wigs in Durban, he fought desperately to save his R7.5b film studio project on the beachfront. It was not his fault, he pleaded, that this long delayed city attraction had not got off the ground despite being first mooted some 23 years ago. Showing dramatic emotional intensity, he pointed an accusatory finger at the eThekwini Municipality, claiming they had failed to provide water and electricity to the old Natal Command property. There were gasps of exasperation from his audience as he complained the municipality had unfairly raised the property valuation from its original R71 m to a whopping R1b, meaning he would now have to pay much more in rates. And then, as tears appeared to roll down his cheeks, he uttered this dramatic appeal: "I think I am being sabotaged by politicians and administrators of the city. However, I do not know for what reasons they do this to me." Finally, his parting plea to his ANC comrades: "I know we have been talking and talking but can we walk the talk now?" The audience clapped in enthusiastic response, with ANC provincial task team convenor Jeff Radebe expressing shock at the long delays and promising an investigation. I have no idea whether Singh is contemplating a change to his career, but his commanding performance last week has certainly helped re-ignite hopes that Durban will get its first movie studio soon. To be fair to the municipality, this is a rather complicated contractual issue and its officials have undertaken to respond to Singh's claims once they've received legal advice. So, it looks like Durbanites will just have to wait and see. I'm hopeful, just as long as it doesn't take another 23 years to materialise. Donald Trump's karma? Hands up all those who believe South Africa is a happy country. I certainly believe that, generally speaking, we are a happy people - despite our many challenges of economic instability, load shedding, water cuts and high crime and corruption levels. And we tend to express this happiness as well as our spirit of resilience in our instinctive behaviour. Where else in the world do you find people who break out into song and dance whatever the occasion - whether we are protesting, in mourning, celebrating, and even in the midst of political campaigning? Mzanzis love talking with their hips, young and old, including our president, Cyril Ramaphosa who's often seen swaying to the strains of popular freedom songs as if to dance his troubles away. It therefore comes as disappointing news that South Africa appears to have slipped from 83rd to 95th place in the recently published World Happiness Report, which evaluates the quality of life of people across the globe. Donald Trump Image: Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP As expected, European countries - Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands - took up the top 5 spots. I often wonder what they've got that we haven't? It was also surprising to see Israel finish in the top 10. What are they so happy about? Another interesting ranking was that of the United States which finished at No. 24, its lowest since the inauguration of the Happiness Report some 13 years ago. I wouldn't blame some South Africans for seeing this as president Donald Trump's karma especially after his vindictive and ill-informed campaign to cut aid funding to our country and spreading untruths about SA persecuting white farmers. What's in a person's name? Many people believe your name is part of who you are. It's crucial to your personal identity and embodies one's individuality and persona. Others however think names are over-rated. They are nothing more than a way of telling one person from another. To find out more, I've been delving into the history and origin of my own name in recent weeks and made some interesting discoveries - not all complimentary. For instance, I discovered - to my eternal shame - that when read backwards, my name spells SINNED. I later learnt that the name originates from Dionysis, the Greek god of wine and revelry - which, I must confess, sounds a lot closer to the truth. But the most astonishing revelation came when I began studying the history of legendary figures with the same or names similar to mine and learned about St Denis, the third century Christian martyr and patron saint of France. According to legend, on the day he was beheaded for his religious beliefs, his body was seen to rise and to gather up his head in his own hands as if he was still alive, carrying it for several miles to his burial site. That probably accounts for why so many of my friends complain I lose my head too often. And when I do, I get carried away with myself. Dennis Pather Image: Supplied Dennis Pather is a retired newspaper editor, author and columnist. Email him at kaydenpather@ From newsroom gofer to award-winning editor, join South African media legend Dennis Pather on a fascinating trip down memory lane in his captivating memoir, Copy Boy. This heart-warming journey takes you inside the newsroom, filled with laughter, hard-earned wisdom, and the power of family. As a special offer, readers of POST can now get a copy of Copy Boy, for just R100. WhatsApp 078 593 0585 for delivery details or 083 452 2831 for direct collection. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. THE POST
