The multibillion-rand Time Square at Menlyn Maine in the east of Pretoria will have positive spin-offs for the government’s objectives of job-creation and black economic empowerment, say the developers.
While some residents’ associations and interest groups have raised concerns about the development, which will include the biggest casino in Gauteng, Sun International says as many as 10 000 jobs will be created during construction and a further 2 200 jobs will result from operations afterwards.
Time Square will tie in with other Sun International urban leisure destinations – GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, the Superbowl at Sun City and Big Top Arena at Carnival City – to provide unique new facilities in Tshwane, they say.
However, a group of 22 residents’ associations and interest groups, known collectively as the Joint Action Group, have expressed dissatisfaction with the City of Tshwane about what they call “underhanded” ways in which the municipality dealt with the Menlyn Node Spatial Development Framework and developments in the Menlyn area in general.
Now, with news of a casino development as part of Time Square within Menlyn Maine, members of the group have once again questioned the way in which the matter has been dealt with by the municipality and may submit an objection to the application to the Gauteng Gambling Board for the transfer of Sun International’s licence from Morula Sun to Menlyn.
The chief executive of the Tshwane Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Piet du Plooy, believes that the development would be good for business in the area while the member of the mayoral committee responsible for economic development, Subesh Pillay, said additional employment would be created during and after construction.
Sun International’s proposal also includes a broad-based black economic empowerment component and is expected to generate considerable revenue for the government by way of taxes and gaming levies.
The company stated that with a casino a key part of its proposal, the City of Tshwane and the Gauteng provincial government “can feel confident that, with Sun International, it would be working with a company with (a) proven reputation of operating licensed casinos in urban environments; one whose operating practices meet and exceed internationally accepted standards”.
One of Sun International’s reasons for the proposed relocation of the Morula Sun casino licence to Time Square was that the introduction of new casinos in Gauteng had affected “extremely negatively” Morula Sun, which was now considered to be too far out for large sectors of the Gauteng market.
As a result, the Morula Sun’s revenue has declined dramatically and the casino has been reduced in size to its current level of 510 slot machines and 12 gaming tables.
The proposed new development will comprise a five-star hotel, a casino, international conference centre, restaurant, bars, parking facilities and a retail precinct.
The casino, to be designed around a time theme, will have 2 000 slot machines and 60 tables to start with, but this could be increased by a further 1 000 slot machines and 40 gaming tables should demand arise.
The luxury hotel, which will be situated adjacent to the casino, will have 110 rooms over six floors including 10 luxury suites on the upper levels while an entertainment complex will accommodate up to 8 000 patrons for concerts, shows and exhibitions.
A conference centre is also planned on the site which borders the Glen High School.
According to Sun International, no jobs will be lost with the relocation of the casino licence from Morula Sun to Time Square.
It is estimated that 10 000 jobs will be created during construction and 2 200 jobs will be sustained during operations. This calculation excludes jobs created and sustained by suppliers to the complex, by the tenants and providers of goods.
As part of its proposal, the company has presented a range of social development projects in which it says it will invest R30 million over three years.
For the development
- Job creation: 10 000 initially and 2 200 during operations
- Economic growth through investment in Tshwane
- Vibrant leisure venue for Tshwane and beyond
- Elevates Tshwane as city and travel destination
- BEE groups and community upliftment projects to be beneificiaries
- Security improvement in area
Against the development
- Big casino in a residential area
- Noise during construction and operation
- Increase in traffic including taxis
- Concern about alcohol consumption, crime
- Environmental impact assessment
- Lack of public consultative process