It’s ‘gaming on’ as iconic resort celebrates 40th birthday
Transkei Sun International limited, which owns The Wild Coast Sun Resort, had been in lengthy discussions with the Eastern Cape Gambling Board to renew its casino licence.
Wild Coast Sun received its 20 year gaming licence as it celebrates its 40th birthday.
The Wild Coast Sun was opened in 1981, two years after the launch of Sun City. The resort is nestled on the Eastern Cape side of the Mtamvuna River border with KwaZulu-Natal.
Transkei Sun International limited, which owns The Wild Coast Sun Resort, had been in lengthy discussions with the Eastern Cape Gambling Board to renew its casino licence.
Graham Wood, Sun International’s Chief Operating Officer for hospitality said, “It has been a long road, but we are delighted to now have a 20 year casino licence, which will expire in 2041. We have worked very hard with our partners, The Mbizana Development Trust and The Mgungundlovu Communal Property Association to secure our casino licence. This brings certainty to our employees and our surrounding communities.”
For the past 40 years the property has also positively contributed to the Eastern Cape provincial fiscus through its contribution in taxes, gaming fees and levies. The resort also provides support to the surrounding community through its various social and enterprise development efforts.
The Wild Coast is Sun International’s only beachfront resort where visitors can step out of their hotel and onto the beach. From its earliest days as a casino and hotel the property has grown into what is now an exciting beach resort with an endless array of fun activities for the entire family to enjoy.
General Manager Peter Tshidi said, “The timing of our casino licence is momentous as we are about to celebrate our 40th birthday toward the end of this month. We now have the certainty that for the next 20 years this incredible resort, and all of our people, can continue to create great lasting memories for all our guests long into the future.”
The Wild Coast Sun resort could be seen in the recent Survivor series which was filmed in a bio-bubble on the property during lockdown.
Recent highlights
During the 2010 to 2012 upgrade, Wild Coast Sun constructed the Wild Waves Water Park, which was imported from White Water West in Canada at a cost of R80-million. The water park features some of world’s best rides and, in line with the original strategy for leisure, Wild Waves caters for all ages.
In 2018 Wild Coast Sun became the first organisation in South Africa to receive a prestigious Green Building Council of South Africa’s Net Zero Waste rating for an ambitious recycling effort at its Wild Coast Sun property.
The Eco-Logic Recycling and Waste Management Award was presented to the Wild Coast Sun on 5 June 2018 by Enviropaedia Eco-Logic Awards
Environmental Timelines
· 2014 – Wild Coast Sun introduces new waste management processes. Gayo Enterprises is formed to separate food waste from other waste. Vuka Uzenzele Trading is formed to manage the compost site and to plant up and manage a vegetable garden
· 2015 – The Wild Coast Sun begins to divert waste from being compacted
· 2016 – Skips and compactors are removed from the property to prevent mixing of waste. All waste is collected, separated and stored in crates at the waste centre. A Zero Waste Contractor is appointed
· 2017 – All non-hazardous waste is recycled as much as possible and waste that cannot be recycled is processed into waste aggregate and turned into eco-blocks used in building and paving
· 2018 – The Wild Coast Sun undergoes certification through the Green Buildings Council of South Africa to become the first Zero Waste to Landfill facility in the country, and on the continent.
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