Nearly three weeks ago, Sun International announced that it was relinquishing the hotel back to the Free State Gambling, Liquor, and Tourism Authority which falls under Destea. Sun International has attributed the decision to financial constraints caused by reduced gambling activities as well as a weakened economy which has been further exacerbated by the five-week coronavirus lockdown.  Sun International has closed down another popular central South African hotel and casino during the lockdown period. 

In a statement, the gaming and hotel company has also announced the closure of the Carousel Hotel and Casino in Moretele, in the North West. They say “the Carousel was one of South Africa's oldest and most popular casinos and entertainment centres. Opened in 1991 in the former Bophuthatswana, the casino created 100's of millionaires during its operations that closed on 24 March 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions imposed to protect fellow South Africans”. Sun International management ended the statement, by thanking staff and visitors for their continued support over the years.

Coincidentally, both the Carousel and Naledi Sun are located in areas that previously fell under the Bophuthatswana Bantu Homelands. 

Meanwhile, the Congress of the People (Cope) has urged the private and public sector to keep the doors of Naledi Sun opened and as a result help keep food on the tables of families in the area that depend on it. This sentiment has been echoed by the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) in the Free State with them pleading with Sun International to avert layoffs. Sun International previously owned Thaba Nchu Sun, now known as the Black Mountain Hotel. They later sold it to pursue establishing a casino in Bloemfontein, known as the Windmill Casino. 

The closure is being described as a huge blow to a community that has seen very little development since the dawn of democracy and is surrounded by empty buildings that now only serve as symbols of a small town that once had a thriving economy. In early 2019, the Thaba’ Nchu community took to the streets, marching against the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality whom they say appear to have deserted them, and denied the town of any development.

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