‘Iconic’ is an often used word (some may even say abused) word. But there is no doubt about Sun City’s status as an icon in South Africa; a premier leisure and entertainment destination which since its establishment decades ago, remains relevant to this day.
But, as Sun City General Manager Brett Hoppé said, to remain relevant after 45 years, they must keep up with changing trends and market demands.
It is for this reason that Sun City is undergoing a major facelift.
While this is to keep-up with the times, Hoppé stressed that it was also to ensure that people keep returning to the resort which supports doorstop communities that depend on Sun City for employment.
Earlier this year, Sun International announced that it would invest R530-million in the resort. Management recently shared some of the development plans with the media during an onsite tour.
Some of the major refurbishments include the addition of a solar plant. Sunshine is something that Sun City gets plenty of, so to address interruptions in energy supply and to reduce their carbon footprint, they began the construction of their own solar plant.
A R17,5-million the solar plant was installed on the roof of Sun City’s conference and entertainment centres last year to reduce reliance on the country’s grid, and is expected to provide 2,59GWh of electricity per annum.
This is an estimated four percent of the resort’s annual electricity needs. The solar PV contribution so far equates to the displacement of 1,3 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in emissions.
Sun City is working on a further large-scale energy project to reduce reliance on the national grid, while adding about 20% to 30% in excess of its own electricity requirements.
Estimates suggest that close to 700kWp can be generated off the roofs of both the Sun City Hotel and The Palace of the Lost City.
The grand old lady of the resort - the Sun City hotel - where it all began, was not forgotten.
Construction on the Sun City resort began in July 1978 and the project was completed at a cost of R30-million in a record-setting 16 months. When the resort opened in December 1979, it consisted of one hotel only – the Sun City hotel.
The Cascades, the Cabanas and the Palace added to the inventory but the original Sun City “casino” hotel has always gripped the public imagination, and today it is as popular as it was back in 1979.
The hotel which was upgraded in 2016, is getting another facelift.
Between August this year and November 2026, the Sun City hotel will undergo a complete upgrade of all 340 rooms, bedroom corridors, bedroom terraces and the Sun Terrace along with various infrastructure upgrades.
The project will be carried out in phases in order to bring the first 56 refreshed rooms back in operation by end the end of November, in time for the Nedbank Golf challenge.
Paying homage to the rich Tswana culture and the unique surroundings of the resort, the new Sun City Hotel interiors create a uniquely African experience, sporting, among others, Tswana weaving in the carpet designs from the corridors to the bedrooms. The room designs serve to complement the vistas of the hotel.
In 1996, Sun International introduced a new accommodation model at Sun City in response to a demand for self-catering units at the resort.
The Sun Vacation Club (SVC) first went to market with The Reserve, which was created by converting an existing staff village into timeshare units. This was later followed by The Aviary and more recently, by the luxurious Lefika Villas.
Some 28 years on, the Sun Vacation Club has grown into one of South Africa’s leading timeshare accommodation offerings. In October 2022, Sun International announced its R295-million Lefika Villas development consisting of 48 three-bedroom and 10 free standing, four-bedroom villas.
Janita Donaldson, Group General Manager for the Sun Vacation Club, said from the day they opened Lefika Villas reservations, it was a hit. More than 50% of the four-bedroom villas were booked for the next year.
Meanwhile, from this month, the 236 units at The Reserve will be refurbished at a cost of R210-million, and it is anticipated to take three years to complete.
But new faces can never be without new attractions, although Sun City regularly reviews its attractions. With the recent resurgence of interest in tennis, the existing tennis courts will also be upgraded.
But the most recent and dynamic sporting attraction will no doubt be the four international-standard padel courts. The R8-million project to build the world class padel courts is nearing completion, and due to open before the end of July.
The open padel courts, which are all constructed using high-quality astro life turf imported from Europe, will be lit at night to allow extended play. The courts will be open daily from 6am to 11pm.
The facilities will also comprise of a reception area, ablution facilities, a pro shop and a food and beverage area. Guests will be able to purchase and hire equipment such as rackets and balls, while padel attire will be on sale at the pro shop.
Once the courts are open, Sun City has plans to host padel tournaments, with the option to potentially host finals in the Sun City Super Bowl thanks to a special pop-up padel court.
While many have memories and stories to tell about their visit to Sun City since its start in the 1970’s, many generations to come are sure to have their own experiences to savour.
Pretoria News