Cape Town – Sun International’s newest casino complex, which opened yesterday in the country town of Worcester, 110km from Cape Town, was expected to boost tourism and employment in the Breede River valley, according to general manager Felicia Roman.

Built at a cost of ZAR 151 million, the Golden Valley Casino was granted Western Cape’s fifth and final licence.

Construction of an 80-room hotel will start early in the new year and a spokesperson for Sun International said this development was expected to make Worcester a popular weekend destination for people from Cape Town.

Roman said the project had already created 316 new jobs, 126 in the casino and 190 with concessionaires in the complex, including its restaurants and bars.

The development has a black economic empowerment shareholding of 60 percent, with Grand Parade Investments, which will be listed soon, holding 38 percent, Stripe Seven Investments 8 percent, Business Venture Investments 10 percent and the Breede River Valley Community Trust 4 percent.

Sun International holds the remaining 40 percent, of which 3.5 percent will be allocated to previously disadvantaged workers through the firm’s employee share trust.