Mthatha's first licensed casino opens

Billion Group CEO Sisa Ngebulana, Commercial Director of Billion Group Vuyokazi Njongwe, and Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane.

The opening of The Mayfair Casino, entertainment and convention centre marks the third phase of the Mayfair development in Mthatha. The first phase saw the opening of the R1.5bn BT Ngebs Mall, followed by the R180m Mayfair four-star hotel.

The launch of this last phase furthers the Billion Group’s stated mission of bringing aspirational developments and world-class facilities and services, to areas that would not otherwise have access to them.

The Mayfair Casino is the only licensed casino within a safe and secure environment in Mthatha boasting 3500 square metres area of world-class entertainment facilities.

Entertainment, conference features

The casino has over 200 slot machines, as well as a variety of live-manual and electronic table games including Roulette, Blackjack and Raise ‘Em Poker, spread across the smoking, non-smoking areas and private areas, while the convention area comprises an events centre with inter-connected conference areas that can accommodate up to 370 delegates in one large venue and breakaway rooms.

Guests learned more about the new development and its impact on the local community from Billion Group CEO Sisa Ngebulana, who is also the mind behind Hemingway’s Mall, Mdantsane City and Baywest Mall.

His single-minded development investment into the Eastern Cape has to date seen some R7.5bn value of developments into the Province in the last 11 years, creating over 12, 000 jobs and infrastructure improvements of over R450m across the province in all these developments.

Fuelling economic growth, job creation

"Mthatha is a very special place for me as I was born and raised here. The aim of developing The Mayfair Casino, Convention and entertainment centre after the success of The Mayfair Hotel was to create a precinct that would inject major economic growth into the region and fuel job creation," said Ngebulana

"About 1,200 direct and indirect jobs were created during the new precinct construction phase, and this has translated into a further 220 permanent positions being created during its operational phase."

Mayfair Casino General Manager Peter Lobban said he was pleased with the turnout for the launch event and with how the casino had been received so far. "We were thrilled to welcome so many people to the launch evening. We saw a lot of the guests trying their luck at the tables and a few getting lucky! I look forward to seeing the Mayfair Casino, Convention and entertainment centre grow from strength to strength with the support of our loyal locals and visitors to the Eastern Cape."