ANC PROBES SINGH'S STUDIO 'SABOTAGE' CLAIMS

R7.5bn development faces delays

- WILLEM PHUNGULA AND THAMI MAGUBANE

THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has vowed to investigate claims made by business tycoon Anant Singh that his R7.5 billion film studio development is being 'sabotaged' by officials in the eThekwini Municipality.

Videovision Entertainment director and film producer Singh acquired the old Natal Command Defence Force building along Durban's North Beach in 2022 to develop film and television studios, however, the project has not taken off.

Speaking at the ANC engagement meeting with businesses in Durban yesterday, Singh said the project has been stalled because the City has not yet installed water and electricity for the property. Moreover, he said the City has revalued the property to be worth R1bn which Singh said was five times higher than the value when he bought it for R71 million in 2022. Singh said this meant he would need to pay more for rates yet the property was unusable because there is no water and electricity. He said he has lodged an objection to the revaluation of building rates.

In a response to Singh from the City, the municipality said its Real Estate unit was still waiting to hear from the legal department about the objection to new rates.