A multimillion-rand, world-class casino has opened in Mthatha.
The Mayfair Casino that opened to the public on Friday has opened up hundreds of new jobs, and will bolster the economy of the Eastern Cape’s third largest city, and add allure for business and leisure travellers.
The entertainment centre, built by property development company Billion Group, boasts a casino, top-tier conferencing facilities, bars and restaurants.
The project, which broke ground late last year, has been in the pre-development phase for two years.
It forms the latest addition to Billion Group’s existing live-work-play precinct that already houses the successful 60,000m² BT Ngebs City Shopping Centre and the plush, four-star Mayfair Hotel, which opened in 2017.
The developments are strategically located on Errol Spring Avenue, close to where the planned N2 Wild Coast toll road will be built.
Eastern Cape-born Billion Group CEO Sisa Ngebulana said they were really excited to see the casino come to fruition. “This project completes the vision we had for a world-class shopping and entertainment node in Mthatha.”.
He said the 2,000m² facility was expected to have a significant impact on the local economy, with 200 permanent jobs created upon opening.
Dewald van Staden, development director at Billion Group, said 50 direct jobs had been created during the project’s construction phase, covering unskilled and fully skilled workers.
“It’s a fact that for every job you create, you create three indirect jobs. We are very proud to be bringing employment to this part of the Eastern Cape. It is our intention to employ as many locals as possible, and to manage the process of employing workers across all three categories where possible: skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled,” said Van Staden.
Three upmarket restaurants within the new complex will span 700m² and offer a choice of a steakhouse, a buffet restaurant or Asian cuisine.
The casino’s modern conference facilities will cater for up to 275 people – an area which can be divided to create two smaller rooms and a private break-away area.
The facilities will also feature a bar area and will have access to cuisine from the restaurants.
Ngebulana, who grew up in Corhana village just outside Mthatha, last year said the group planned to invest R16bn in the Eastern Cape region over the next 10 years.
Vusile Ntlabathi, president of both the Eastern Cape Chamber of Business and OR Tambo Chamber of Business, applauded the initiative by the Billion Group.
“This will also create opportunities,” he said.
“It has been a complaint that in Mthatha there is no entertainment facilities for youth and young professional and this will address that,” said Ntlabathi...