Burgersfort casino to boost economy enormously

AFTER being delayed by a high court order for approximately four years, the construction of the R240 million Thaba Moshate Hotel Casino and Convention Resort is now underway in the small mining town of Burgersfort.

The licence was issued by the Limpopo Gambling Board to a Peermont Global subsidiary and they have already commenced with the earthworks.

They could have kicked off with their earthworks in 2009, if one of the developers in Tubatse had not instituted legal proceedings in the high court challenging among others, the establishment of the township called Burgersfort Extension 46 on which the development would take place. The entire project was put on hold pending the finalisation of the matter in court.

The casino and resort will be situated at the intersection of the R37 to Polokwane and Steelpoort’s R555 road. The project has 400 temporary jobs and 150 people will be employed when the casino starts operating.

Peermont Global development and compliance executive, Thabo Mokoena, said the casino would offer an entertainment complex comprising a casino with 150 slot machines, eight gaming tables and 80 key selective services.

There will alsob be a three-star hotel, a conference centre, a 148-seat restaurant, a show bar, a teenage entertainment area with video and electronic gaming, child facilities, a pool, terrace and boma.

Mokoena said the ground-breaking would last for 18 months before the brickwork could start. “The entire project will be completed in March 2015. This casino will boost the economy of Tubatse,” Mokoena said.

Tubatse mayor, Nkosi Mahlake could not hide his excitement, and said the entire town of Burgersfort was happy construction was going ahead, as they had waited far too long.

“I’m happy that we have already commenced with the construction. The construction of the casino is creating employment,” Mahlake said.