Sun City, North West

Sun City, North West
Sun City, North West Location in North West
Sun City, North West
Coordinates: 25°20′25″S 27°5′27″E
Country	South Africa
Province	North West
District	Bojanala
Municipality	Moses Kotane
Area
• Total	64.28 km2 (24.82 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	2,590
• Density	40/km2 (100/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2001)
• Black African	20%
• Coloured	5.8%
• Indian/Asian	4.1%
• White	70.1%
First languages (2001)
• English	53.4%
• Afrikaans	25.9%
• Tswana	11.7%
• Zulu	3.0%
• Other	6%
Time zone	SAST (UTC+2)
The resident population of Sun City is about 15,000, but the resort attracts around 25,000 people a day.

Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

History

The Bridge of Time facing the Entertainment Centre

Sun City was developed by the hotel magnate Sol Kerzner as part of his Sun International group of properties. It was officially opened on 7 December 1979; at the time it was located in the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana.

As Bophuthatswana had been declared an independent state by South Africa's apartheid government (although unrecognized as such by any other country), it was allowed under the South African law at the time to provide entertainment such as gambling and topless revue shows, which were banned in South Africa. These factors, as well as its relatively close location to the large metropolitan areas of Pretoria and Johannesburg, ensured that Sun City soon became (and stayed) a popular holiday and weekend destination. Many famous performers such as Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa, Elaine Page, Frank Sinatra, Queen, Elton John, Sarah Brightman, Julio Iglesias, The O'Jays, Boney M., Black Sabbath, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Laura Branigan and Thomas Anders (of Modern Talking fame) also performed at the 'Sun City Super Bowl', a large auditorium which seats 6,230. Sun City also became the site of several important Heavyweight boxing matches during the late 1970s and early 1980s. One such boxer was Gerrie Coetzee, who later (1983) became heavyweight world champion.

Sun City became the subject of considerable controversy in 1985 when E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt made it the focus of his music-industry activist group, Artists United Against Apartheid. Forty-nine top recording artists collaborated on a song called "Sun City", in which they pledged they would never perform at the resort because of their opposition to apartheid. Additionally, Simple Minds included the song as part of a live medley on their live Live in the City of Light double album in 1987.

In 2001, Sun City was the site of the 2nd IIFA Awards. Held at the Super Bowl Arena, it honoured both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in Bollywood, for that year.

Post-apartheid

Sun City has continued to flourish since Bophutatswana was re-incorporated in the new South Africa in 1994.

The resort has four hotels:

• Sun City Hotel;
• Cascades Hotel;
• The Cabanas;
• The Palace of the Lost City.

In addition to the four hotels, the complex includes time-share facilities called "The Sun City Vacation Club" which is a popular self-catering facility.

Sun City also has two international-standard 18-hole golf courses, the Gary Player Country Club and the Lost City Golf Course, both designed by Gary Player. The Gary Player Country Club is home to the prestigious Nedbank Golf Challenge (formerly the Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Challenge) that is held annually and sees some of the best golfing talent from all over the world competing for the title.

The Lost City Golf Course is noted for the 38 crocodiles in the water feature of the 13th hole.

The Sun City resort has hosted various concerts and events, including the Miss South Africa and Miss South Africa Teen Pageant. These pageants take place annually in Sun City’s Super Bowl Arena and the Valley of Waves. Also held in the Valley of Waves is the Springbreak summer festival which sees flocks of holiday-making students from all over the country gather for up to 5 days of fun in the sun. The resort was also the site of the Sun City Agreement.

Awards

The Sun City resort has won a series of awards in various categories, including Environmental, Heritage and Travel and Tourism. Some of the most prestigious awards include: Environmental Awards:

• Winner of the Best Practice Accommodation Establishment, 2003;
• Winner Best Social Involvement Program, 2004;
• Winner Best Single Resource Management Water, 2005;
• Winner Best single resource Management Waste, 2005;
• Overall winner of the Fedhasa Imvelo Awards for Responsible Tourism, 2007;
• Winner - Best Corporate Social Investment Program, 2007;

Heritage Awards:

• The Palace, Cascades, Sun City hotel and Vacation Club awarded Platinum status, 2009;
• The Cabanas Hotel maintained Gold status, 2009;

Travel and Tourism Awards:

• World Travel Award (WTA) for leading hotel brand, 2008;
• The Gary Player Country Club: 2002, 2008 and 2009: Rated number 1 course in South Africa. ;
• Lestsatsing Conference Centre in Sun City Hotel was awarded 5 stars for the “meeting Centre”, 2008.;

Eventia International Travel & Meetings (ITM) Awards (London) Awards to World Event Management:

• Platinum Award for the incentive project deemed to be the "Best of the Best";
• Best Event Demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility Best Conference or Congress, Long Haul Best Celebratory Event;
• Diners Club International “Wine list of the Year” award to the Palace Hotel – Sun City Resort.;

Diners Club International – Wine list of the Year Awards:

• Palace Hotel, 2007;
• Santorini Restaurant awarded Platinum status, 2009;
• Villa del Palazzo Restaurant at The Palace awarded Diamond status, 2002, 2009;

World Travel Awards 2009:

• Africa’s Leading Family Resort;
• Africa’s Leading Resort;
• Africa’s Leading Casino Resort;

Star Awards:

• Best Holiday Resort in South Africa;
• Best Wedding Venue in South Africa;

Special Awards:

• The Reach for a Dream Foundation presented the Sun City Resort with a certificate of appreciation for the support of children with terminal illnesses.;

See also

• Pilanesberg International Airport
• Pilanesburg Game Reserve

External links

• Official website
• South African Casinos
• 360 image at The Palace of The Lost City Sun City
• The Lost City Golf Course

Preceded by GWCC Millennium Dome

Miss World Venues 1992 - 1995 2001

Succeeded by Cricket Stadium Alexandra Palace