Construction has commenced on the primary section of a brand new R295 million expansion of Sun International’s Sun Vacation Club (SVC) timeshare product, on the group’s Sun City resort close to Rustenburg in the North West province.
Called Lefika Villas, the primary section expansion will add 58 luxurious three- and four-bedroom villas to the Sun Vacation Club, plus a leisure space with a resort pool, household restaurant and youngsters’s play space.
Lefika Villas will be capable of accommodate as much as 400 further friends, with further models rising the Sun Vacation Club at Sun City to 478 models.
Sun International CEO Anthony Leeming stated it’s experiencing vital demand for Sun Vacation Club lodging at Sun City and this expansion will assist fulfill this demand.
“We are confident that this development will achieve above-market returns,” he stated.
The expansion represents the group’s first vital expansion at Sun City since 2004, when it developed The Aviary, the second lodging providing launched on the Sun Vacation Club.
‘Expanded masterplan’
During a Wednesday night time briefing on the brand new expansion, Sun International chief working officer for hospitality Graham Wood stated that the beginning of Lefika Villas,
“… is only but a phase of an expanded masterplan for this resort.”
Sun International growth supervisor Mark Pitchers stated the group has about R1.1 billion in tasks throughout the Sun City resort which can be presently underway.
Pitchers stated Lefika Villas is the primary of a two-phase expansion at Sun Vacation Club.
The second section, referred to as Sun Central, may have a special goal market and be developed the place the employees village is presently positioned, which shall be demolished.
Pitchers stated this second section will comprise about 200 two- and three-bedroom models and, topic to approval from Sun International’s board, the venture will start in January 2023 and be accomplished in December 2024.
Sun Vacation Club group normal supervisor Janita Donaldson stated the 2 phases of this expansion will price about R850 million, with Lefika Villas accounting for R295 million of the entire and the second section expansion the steadiness.
But Donaldson pressured that the second section of the expansion venture has not been confirmed but.
“The success of Lafika Villas will drive the second phase [expansion]. It will be demand driven and depend on the success of the first phase,” she stated.
Pitchers added that Sun International has a masterplan that may enable for an extra 10 four-bedroom villas, which may even be demand pushed and undertaken if there may be uptake and they’re offered out.
He stated the principal constructing contract for the Lefika Villas venture has been awarded to JSE-listed building and engineering group WBHO, whereas Jodan Construction had been awarded the civil engineering contract.
Surrounding communities at Sun City will profit from upliftment and expertise switch tasks, with a stipulated 30% construct worth to be allotted to native contractors.
Pitches stated the earthworks contract shall be accomplished by 15 November 2022, with the Lefika Villas models handed over in a phased completion course of.
“We are predicting 15 October to 21 November 2023 as a phased handover,” he stated.
Pitchers stated the R1.1 billion in tasks at Sun City contains:
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The R208 million refurbishment of the about 320 bedrooms at The Palace, which commenced at the start of 2021 and shall be accomplished in November 2022.
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The addition of a spa {and gymnasium} at The Palace.
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The full makeover of the unique Salon Privé in the Sun City Hotel.
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The R850 million two-phase expansion of Sun Vacation Club.
Leeming stated Sun City stays perennially widespread and put up the Covid-19 pandemic it has seen a rise in demand from leisure, convention and sporting friends.
“We have invested significantly in the property and the resort is in great condition,” he stated.
Wood stated Sun Vacation Club presently has 384 models and 26 000 house owners and runs at very excessive occupancies.
“We have spent numerous time engaged on the design growth of those [Lefika Villas] models to provide our present and new house owners one thing uniquely particular.
“They are definitely positioned in the luxury segment of this industry because we understand that is where the demand is currently, given the dynamics of our economy,” he stated.
