The South African government wants to put real money behind Durban Film City. Aiming for a bigger slice of the global film industry, the proposed studio complex reportedly needs R7.5 billion to get off the ground. Better still, the project is earmarked for the 21-hectare Natal Command site opposite the Moses Mabhida Stadium. This is according to the latest Construction Book from Infrastructure South Africa, a document delineating investor visibility of future projects.
R7.5-BILLION DURBAN FILM CITY
So, what’s the genus of Durban Film City? It is the brainchild of acclaimed SA filmmaker Anant Singh. He’s been pushing this vision for nearly two decades, and it has outlived several ministers tasked with getting it up and running.
Nevertheless, Durban Film City is projected to create more 50 000 temporary and permanent jobs once operational. Singh argues that Durban already punches well above its weight in film and entertainment without any studio infrastructure to speak of.
Now, President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly backed the project. He compares it to what’s already happening in Cape Town. “A single film season brings in $200 million in revenue, which is every year in Cape Town. So, we need to open another studio here,” Ramaphosa said at the 2026 Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium.
INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING FALLING SHORT
What can South Africans look forward to in the latest Construction Book? Here are how the country’s major projects entering procurement in the next 12 to 18 months are split:
Big-ticket public-private partnership projects in the mix include a national rail corridor. Plus, the George Mukhari Hospital project in Gauteng, and Beitbridge/Musina Water Transfer Scheme in Limpopo.
WHEN WILL DURBAN FILM CITY STUDIO GO LIVE?
As many have reported, the National Treasury has allocated R1.07 trillion for public infrastructure between 2026 and 2029. However, Ramaphosa’s real concern isn’t the future pipeline, but rather what happens to projects once they’re in construction. As such, Infrastructure South Africa is now compelled to publish quarterly performance reports tracking each project.
Just one of these will be Durban Film City. Unfortunately, besides Ramaphosa’s endorsement, nobody is putting a timeline on it. The most recent project update (mid-2026) shows a site framework plan. Bulk infrastructure still needs upgrading, electricity was reconnected to the old Natal Command building back in April 2025, but water and sanitation are still blocked over allegedly unpaid accounts tied to a rates dispute. So, for now, ‘coming soon’ remains the only realistic description …
But what do you think? Would it be great to see something like Durban Film City finally getting off the ground? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …
