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livesTouching The entertainment complex of Gauteng, South Africa-

based Montecasino, owned by Tsogo Sun Gaming, attracts 20,000 visitors a day but also touches lives in

another, more profound way. Julia Smith reports

livesThe entertainment complex of Gauteng, South Africa-

based Montecasino, owned by Tsogo Sun Gaming, attracts 20,000 visitors a day but also touches lives in

another, more profound way. Julia Smith reports

M o n t e c a s i n o

Being the best at everything can be a lot to live up to. The gaming and entertainment complex of Montecasino, located in Fourways, north of Johannesburg, was voted by visitors last year as the best casino, best entertainment complex, best cinema complex and

the best place to take out-of-towners. To maintain this sort of cutting edge position requires continuous investment of capital, energy and imagination.

The gates opened for the first time in 2000 when the site began operating as a casino/cinema complex. Since then, there has been no stopping Montecasino. Today 1,300 staff are employed at the complex to entertain an average of 20,000 people each day. Facilities include a full casino, an enormous outdoor Tuscan-style piazza and concert area capable of hosting world class acts and around 90 retail tenancies to tempt shoppers. A total of 24 different restaurants are also on site to whet the appetite.

This summer, the complex has witnessed a soccer bonanza as fans from around the world have flocked to the site to celebrate the World Cup. Montecasino had a unique MTN Fan Zone in place throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup—the result of a partnership between Montecasino and MTN to show matches on a massive outdoor screen in the piazza. Visitors said that it truly felt like they were actually on the stands of a packed stadium, with an atmosphere to match.

M o n t e c a s i n o

“The atmosphere at Montecasino has been electric,” said general manager Steve Howell. “Hundreds of fans from all over the world not lucky enough to have secured tickets to the actual games have been joining the throes of sporting fans at Montecasino, all wearing their jerseys with pride and shouting their support for their various teams. It’s been amazing to see.”

Meanwhile, another new addition to the complex, The Pivot, has recently been completed. This R700 million project features a hotel with an outdoor pool, leisure area and gym for weary revellers who do not want the drive back to town after a night out. It has been designed with particular attention to the corporate market and business visitors will find the useful addition of a new conference centre to add to the existing corporate facilities, which range from an intimate boardroom to a grandiose ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 people.

Montecasino is the largest of the seven properties owned by Tsogo Sun Gaming (TSG),

which in turn is one of two companies owned by Tsogo Sun Holdings (TSH). This is the largest black empowerment company in South Africa’s leisure industry. TSG is passionate about setting world class standards in South African gaming and entertainment; and the footfall of 21 million visitors annually bears testament to its success.

However, the company is equally passionate about spearheading Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and social responsibility both internally in the group and externally within the various communities in South Africa where its facilities are located.

The empowerment deal which resulted in the establishment of TSH in 2003 had a major impact on the transformation of the hotel and gaming industry in South Africa. Since then, the group’s philosophy has always been that BEE should be much more far-reaching than simply conforming to government standards.

Jabu Mabuza, group chief executive, is accepted as an international authority and role model on BEE. He has presented papers on the subject in Africa,

the UK, the US and Europe and he has also won many BEE awards, including the 2004 Impumelelo Top Black Business Personality of the Year.

Social responsibility is taken equally seriously. TSH is unique within the industry in that each of its seven properties has been tasked with selecting and supporting a number of charity initiatives of their choice, with an emphasis on championing the local communities where they are based.

“Our strategic corporate social investment [CSI] strategy ensures that we don’t just donate money to charities but that we actually touch people’s lives in a real and meaningful way,” explains Howell. “We’ve taken a more personalised approach to making a real difference in the lives of the communities in which we operate and we aim for long term relationships.”

Banakekeleni AIDS Haven is just one of a number of projects that are supported. It was established by Rose Kubayi, a former school teacher, to assist

suppliers, friends and families to help in the effort to get as many children as possible off the streets of Hillbrow and into an environment where they can experience normality. Sufficient funds have been raised to rent a home which currently accommodates, feeds, educates and sustains 15 children. The long term goal is to raise sufficient funds to buy a permanent home.

Visitors to Montecasino pay for hedonism and escapism in world class surroundings. Howell and his team are very proud that some of that expenditure is then used to touch lives at a more profound level. “We are deeply committed to making an ongoing difference in the lives of those less fortunate and to contributing towards improving the lives of those in our nearby communities,” he said. www.montecasino.co.za

persons with AIDS and HIV infection in the community of Alexandra. The haven is sanctuary to over 50 children and relies almost entirely on donations. Montecasino staff have helped with fundraising and become personally involved in many ways. Volunteering at the Haven is actually encouraged.

Another project is the New Life Centre at Hillbrow. This was formed to support women and children who were the victims of sexual exploitation, often as a result of families being torn apart due to AIDS. The New Life Centre offers hope of a better life through the opportunity for an education or by giving adults the chance to acquire employable skills.

Montecasino Corporate Events has adopted The New Life Centre Shelter as its primary CSI project and encourages its business partners,

“We’ve taken a more personalised approach to making a real difference in the lives of the communities in which we operate and we aim for long term relationships”

M o n t e c a s i n o

MONTECASINOwww.montecasino.co.za