Apology to Anant Singh

● The Sunday Times apologises to Anant Singh for unfairly portraying him as an unreasonable and irrational person in the story “Movie mogul seeks R1m from beyond the grave” (February 25) by creating the impression that he had been lodging an action against a dead person.

His actions, in fact, were aimed at a close corporation and those of its members who were still alive.

Singh complained to press ombudsman Johan Retief about the story that reported on a deal to pay the eThekwini municipality R15-million in 2003 for land where Singh wanted to build a R7.5-billion film studio complex.

The journalist also quoted the Department of Defence as saying: “The site was handed over to the city in 2009. However, the appropriate disposal procedures were not followed. The disposal . . . is therefore not authorised and could not be executed.”

The ombudsman directed us to apologise for failing to balance this comment with Singh’s version of events. The film producer denies any untoward action on his part.

Retief found that we unnecessarily tarnished Singh’s dignity and reputation, for which we also apologise.

Visit www.presscouncil.org.za for the full finding.