After five long months of lockdown, Sun City Resort reopened its doors to the public on Wednesday, 02 September. The staff, who were elated to be able to return to work again, marked the occasion with the Jerusalema dance challenge.
WATCH: Sun City staff do the Jerusalema dance challenge
Sun City reports; “Gardeners and chefs danced alongside security officers, housekeepers, hotel managers and casino dealers, cleaners, receptionists, managers, green keepers and the entire Sun City executive team. They also sang the National Anthem in a moving tribute to all South Africans, and the resilience of the nation and the tourism industry hopefully recovering quickly from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Our message is one of unity and celebration, not just for Sun City’s reopening, but for the reopening of the broader tourism industry in South Africa. We can do this. We have to do this. We will do this.”
Speaking at the reopening, General Manager Brett Hoppé said, “The staff were sensational and watching them celebrate our reopening was a deeply moving experience. We are a close knit team which is totally reliant on each other to deliver what guests see as the Sun City experience and live our mantra of customer service. Now we have all shared in the stress of not being allowed to operate or earn an income for six months, to finally be allowed to do what we all do best is an indescribably joyful moment for us.
“Our message is one of unity and celebration, not just for Sun City’s reopening, but for the reopening of the broader tourism industry in South Africa. We can do this. We have to do this. We will do this. Our industry will survive if all South Africans support us, and we know they will.”
Health and safety protocols
All of Sun International’s properties, including Sun City, have been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) safe stamp of approval. This verifies that the COVID-19 health and safety protocols they have put in place are in-line with international benchmarks. They also take into account all recommendations by the Department of Health, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In line with level 2 restrictions, all visitors will be required to practice social distancing and wear masks. All public spaces, such as restaurants and swimming pools, have been adapted to ensure that the maximum of 50 persons (including staff) is not exceeded, while the casino is restricted to no more than 50% capacity of the available space. Social distancing will also be practiced on busses and shuttles.
All of Sun International’s properties, including Sun City, have been awarded the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) safe stamp of approval.
Community assistance
During lockdown, Sun City focused their attention on assisting their local communities, including old age homes, hospices, orphanages, disaster and crisis centres, health care centres, clinics and home-based care centres. This included making and distributing COVID-19 educational materials and hygiene support kits, as well as essential food parcels.
Hoppe says, “I am immensely proud of my staff for the effort they made to improve the lives of those less fortunate – especially at a time when their own livelihoods were at stake. As a result, many poor residents in communities such as Moruleng, Tlhatlhaganyane, Tlokweng Village, Brakkuil, Madikwe, Rustenburg North, Tlaseng, Monakato, Chaneng, Phatsima, Moses Kotane and Mogwase received an important lifeline during lockdown.”
Animal spotting
While Sun City’s property was locked, the animals from the adjacent Pilanesberg National Park had the opportunity to explore it. Security teams filmed Monkeys comically playing in children’s play areas, while warthog and herds of buck grazed on the lush lawns and the greens at the famous Gary Player Golf Course. There were even sightings of an adult leopard on the outlying edges of the property.
Security teams filmed Monkeys comically playing in children’s play areas, while warthog and herds of buck grazed on the lush lawns and the greens at the famous Gary Player Golf Course.
Speaking ahead of the public opening, Hoppe said “We are inundated with enquiries from people wanting to visit Sun City and our reservations team has been hard at work managing bookings for rooms. The reaction from travellers is a good sign that Sun City will still enjoy a bumper tourist season this year.”
The website contains up-to-date details of which hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities are open. Click here to find out more.
