Sun International has handed over its Morula Casino and Hotel in Mabopane and the infrastructure to the North West Housing Corporation.

The existing infrastructure comprises a 3-star hotel with 73 furnished rooms including a presidential suite, the casino, a spa, an area for conferencing and business meetings, a restaurant, two bars, a tennis court and swimming pool. The local library, which Sun International relocated onto the property comprises, computers, it is also a community learning centre. It also serves as a facility for receiving Unisa assignments. 

In addition to the children’s entertainment facilities on the property, Sun International originally started a crèche as an enterprise development project with about 70 children in attendance, in three classes. This is in a building with its own kitchen facilities and playground.

Anthony Leeming, Sun International CEO said: “In relocating our licence from Morula to Tshwane, our primary concern was for the existing staff at Morula, and the impact the move could have on the adjacent communities of Mabopane and Soshanguve. We offered new jobs at Time Square to all Morula staff and the majority elected to relocate, while a few chose to take early retirement or to continue working at Morula for the new operator.”

Isaac Modiselle, North West Housing Corporation Chairman said: "Morula will form a vital part of the portfolio of leisure properties for the province. It is not only an important draw card for tourism to the area, but it is also a community hub with banks, retailers, restaurants, pubs and other amenities. By providing the entire existing infrastructure, Sun International has ensured that the handover to the NWHC should be seamless for us and for the community."

The North West Housing Corporation has identified an operator to run the hotel. The gaming component has remained open as Electronic Bingo Terminals (EBT’s) operated by Goldrush Gaming Group and is now known as Goldrush Morula.

Goldrush Operations Managing Director, Katleho Thejane said: “We opened with 180 gaming machines, and we will be increasing this to 450 by the first week of June; hence the full complement of gaming machines, will allow us to cater even more to our customers.  This venture has also created over 100 new job opportunities for communities within Mabopane and surrounding areas.”