Mdantsane Sun set to shine again
Owner finishes phase one revamp
THE Mdantsane Sun Hotel has entered a new era thanks to a multimillionrand facelift that began in January.
Owner Mkhuseli Mnguni, said phase one of the renovations was completed last week, and the hotel now boasted two bars, an entertainment area and restaurant.
Work on phase two is expected to start next month and will see a revamp of existing rooms, while a planned phase three will focus on increasing the number of rooms from eight to 20.
Mnguni said conference facilities would also be given a minor spit-and-polish to allow for a more modern finish. He said the hotel would provide a clean and safe entertainment for young professionals with a better venue for functions for Mdantsane residents.
“The hotel has been open for many years, with people mostly renting the space for meetings and funerals. But last year my dad and I just decided that we wanted to revamp it to attract bigger crowds,” Mnguni said.
“We were hoping to create a space which will cater to young professionals, not teenagers. I do feel that there are not enough places like this in Mdantsane, so there was a definite need. I hope it will be well received.”
With a stage in the second bar, Mnguni said the hotel would host musical acts, with live jazz offered on Sunday afternoons.
“The stage and this space means that we will now be able to bring in the popular acts that were not necessarily interested in coming to perform in Mdantsane before, perhaps because of the state of the venues,” he said.
“But this is by no means meant exclusively for Mdantsane residents. I am hoping to attract people from other East London suburbs and I want them to know that if they want to have a good time in the township, then there is a safe place they can come to.”
Everything from the construction company, kitchen staff and security guards have been sourced locally.
“So far I’m enjoying a lot of support from the community, which is great, because the hotel not only serves the locals but has also created jobs.
“For example, the kitchen required a full staff complement and I had to hire security guards, which I got from a local security company.”
Although the hotel is up and running, Mnguni said a date for the official grand opening was yet to be set. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za