The first phase of the establishment of South Africa’s R400-million Dreamworld film studio project has commenced, as bush is cleared on the site near Faure, about 20km from Cape Town.
Dreamworld, which won a government tender to set up the studio earlier this year, has an ownership structure comprising acclaimed South African film maker Anant Singh and local television station etv.
Dreamworld is also working with the Helderberg African Chamber of Commerce on the empowerment rollout process to ensure the involvement of local black-owned businesses in the implementation phase.
Commenting on the start-up of the project on Thursday, Phuti Tsukudu, the Dreamworld director assigned the responsibility of empowerment rollout and
monitoring for the project, said site clearing had started last week. Tsukudu said it was expected to take approximately three weeks to clear the most critical areas in order to facilitate key studies to be undertaken by the botanist, fresh water consultant and environmentalist as part of the environmental impact assessment on the site.
Approximately five hectares had been cleared. The clearing was also imperative for land surveyors to undertake topographical surveys so that town planning consultants and architects were able to define the environmental constraints on site and plan the position of the film studio.
Construction was expected to begin in early 2005.
Tsukudu said that FM Clearing Services, a black empowerment company, had been appointed to clear the bush. The company was owned by Michael Mfanya, and had undertaken extensive work for both the Working for Water and the Ukuvuka government campaigns.
FM currently had six teams on site, with each team comprising 15 people. All those working on site had been drawn from the immediate vicinity of the development, including the Cape Flats townships of Khayelitsha, Harare, Guguletu and Mfuleni.
“This development is set to dramatically boost South Africa as a destination of choice for international filmmakers who will not only have access to spectacular locations, but who will now be offered a one-stop, highly advanced facility where an entire production can be produced from conception to completion,” said Tsukudu.
“The impact that this will have on our economy is highly significant and the jobs Dreamworld will create both in the construction and operation phase will help alleviate the plight of the poor and unemployed in greater Cape Town.
“This bush clearing phase is a small but tangible example of how residents of immediate townships will benefit from this development. We look forward to making this project a success not only for Dreamworld, but for the thousands of people and their families who will benefit from the jobs it will provide.”
An economic impact assessment undertaken by Dreamworld estimated that the construction of the proposed Dreamworld Film City could result in additional 8Â 300 employment opportunities that could be created and sustained during the construction period. During the operating phase it was estimated that it would be able to eventually sustain a total of 7Â 800 employment opportunities.
Dreamworld’s empowerment and BEE scorecard revealed that the total project, including the equity portion warehoused for BEE companies, would result in a project with a 70% empowerment achievement. A maximum value of 25% of Dreamworld’s equity had been specifically reserved for Cape-based empowerment companies.
“Empowerment is integral to the proposal by Dreamworld,” said Tsukudu, “and is addressed through a comprehensive empowerment protocol that recognises that it is not just a question of correcting the imbalances in the South African economy, but is an imperative to the survival and sustainability of the film industry.
“Our proposal addresses the need for significant job creation and ultimately grass-roots participation in the ownership, construction and operation of the project. This will be achieved through our commitment to an empowerment protocol that will ensure that the benefits are spread very widely, but concentrated here in the Western Cape and to developing much needed skills in the film industry.
“The position of the proposed Film City site in Faure was carefully chosen for its suitability as a film studio site on the advice of both Dreamworld’s international and local consulting team, including international studio experts from the US. The development will act as an investment catalyst along the N2 corridor that will directly benefit disadvantaged communities, in line with the Western Cape government’s economic growth plan,” said Tsukudu. – I-Net Bridge