Construction World June 2022

PROPERTY

HOTEL CHAIN INVESTS IN LIMPOPO WITH A 4 STAR OFFERING African Century Group, marked the beginning of a 4-star Premier Hotel 120-room establishment in Thohoyandou with a sod turning event in April. M ost significant about this development is that African Century Group is owned by Tsakani Masia, a black female whose business prowess attracted the Premier Hotel Group to be part of the development. Undoubtedly to be the biggest 4-star hotel in the far

Century Group, we never thought twice. After going through the profile of the owner, Mrs Tsakani Masia, and after listening to her vision, we were convinced that in her, we had found a partner equal to the task. As is the case with developments like this, our due diligence gave us a thumbs up. We could never have settled for a better partner than the African Century Group. More exciting is the fact that the Group is local and is fit for a big stage such as this,” says Samuel Nassimov, MD of Premier Hotels. The Premier Hotels development on the north-eastern edge of the town will be a modern build, with a touch of African flair, very similar to its OR Tambo hotel. The facade will be stone as opposed to brick with numerous environmentally-friendly aspects. With close to 8 697 m2 of usable space, the hotel will accommodate 120 rooms, conference space to host up to 450 delegates for conferences for local business in the area or celebratory functions, a business suite, bar and restaurant with wine bar, outdoor pool, and gym facility. 

Northern part of Limpopo Province in the Vhembe District that borders Zimbabwe in an ever-green scenic view of Thohoyandou and a stone throw from the Kruger National Park’s Punda Maria gate, the hotel will be a major milestone in the tourism sector and will serve as a catalyst to many economic developments that existed and are still planned for the region. The highlight of the event will be a normal ritual of turning the soil by the Premier of Limpopo Province Stanley Mathabatha to signal the beginning of the construction process. Dignitaries from the financiers and other stakeholders will grace the occasion. With vast knowledge and experience in the building industry, Nakiseni Business Enterprise, a sister company to African Century owned by the same owner of African Century Group has been assigned to execute the construction work. A project of this magnitude is critical in creating job opportunities with hopes to provide during the construction phase, in the region of 480 jobs varying from unskilled local construction labour through to highly skilled artisans, project managers, and the like. When the hotel officially opens, it will also employ 85 permanent workers, and 30 to 40 contract/part-time staff improving the livelihood of the local families. “Not only does this development create jobs and livelihoods but it also plays its part in changing this environment that I call home. The people of Vhembe like others also deserve better facilities for their socio-economic fulfilment,” says Tsakani Masia, the Managing Director of African Century Group. “When we were approached by the African

16 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2022