Sun International’s flagship resort hosted the celebrations as the South African Chinese community rang in the Year of the Snake, with renewal and prosperity front of mind
The Chinese (Lunar) New Year or Spring Festival is a truly global affair. Hundreds of millions of Chinese criss-cross the country during these extended holidays each year to reunite with families or for sight-seeing. With a record 9 billion domestic trips on the cards this year, it marks the largest annual human migration on earth.
South Africa, which boasts the largest Chinese community in Africa, has long mirrored the Chinese mainland in its vociferous celebrations characterised by traditional red-and-gold regalia, bad luck-dispersing lion and dragon dancing, gift exchanges, and sumptuous traditional delights.
In a two-day festival from 31 January to 1 February, which also served as the South African leg of the UN-sanctioned global Spring Festival, Sun City, in association with Shunde Dining Entertainment Group, hosted much revelry as guests welcomed the Year of the Snake, which heralds wisdom, adaptability, and a sense of transformation. The fabled resort in the North West was as slick as ever in celebrating the arrival of the serpent and showcasing the wealth of gaming, dining, and adventure activities it has to offer.
Cultural fabric
CAPTION: Sun City General Manager Brett Hoppé
Sun City General Manager Brett Hoppé said it was a privilege to be able to share the New Year event with a Chinese community who have contributed so much to the resort and Sun International group over the years.
“This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ and celebrating the new year to the Chinese community who have been so important to us on both domestic and international fronts. Much of our gaming growth can be put down to this market, especially from the baccarat tables.
“Sun City has always been a hugely sought-after destination on the mainland – we’ve been completely full over the Chinese New Year in the past. It is also an important for the cultural fabric of South Africa, as other communities are exposed to the ancient Chinese culture.”
Hoppé added that government’s new visa regime centre on trusted tour operators was set to decrease the complexity of gaining the travel document for Chinese nationals and was thus important for South African tourism.
Diplomatic relations
CAPTION: North West MEC for Social Development Basetsana Sussana Dantjie
The event also marked the 27th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China. In an elegant gala dinner at the Sun City Arena attended by various Chinese and South African dignitaries, including representatives from corporates, local government, and traditional leadership, along with 1 200 other guests, speaker after speaker paid tribute to a Chinese community that has helped shape the country’s cultural and socio-economic character since migration began in the 1870s.
North West MEC for Social Development Basetsana Sussana Dantjie said the celebration was key to strengthening the relationship between the North West government and Chinese investors in order to alleviate poverty and unemployment in the province.
“The Lunar New Year celebration fits in perfectly with the North West government’s programme of action centred on renewal, prosperity, bringing people together – this is everything we stand for. We have a long strategic relationship with Chinese companies. Our entrepreneurs and businesses must benefit from this relationship. We are hopeful that things will move forward positively for our communities in this year.”
In November 2024, representatives from the North West and China’s Henan province met to explore to explore possibilities of collaborating in the fields of agriculture, mining, and technologies.
In a fitting culmination to proceedings, the night sky above Monkey Spring Plaza erupted in a symphony of colours, drawing gasps of wonder from the crowd as bursts of flame coiled and danced like serpents across the Pilanesberg horizon. It was a spectacular way to usher in the Year of the Snake – a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and resilience in Chinese culture.
A second home
CAPTION: Xu Changbin from the All-Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China
Xu Changbin from the All-Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China expressed his gratitude to Sun International for working with the Chinese community to organise the Chinese New Year event.
“This is an excellent platform for cultural exchanges between South Africa and China, and for the Chinese in South Africa to gather and celebrate the Chinese New Year together in our second home. It is also serves to showcase the Chinese culture and the significance of Spring Festival to other South African communities. It is only through cultural exchanges that the two countries can have better understanding with each other and to develop and strengthen friendships.”
Beyond the breathtaking festivities, Sun City honoured the long-standing bond between Sun International and the Chinese community, a relationship spanning over 40 years. Guests immersed themselves in the festivities, embracing traditions that emphasise renewal, prosperity, and the strength of connections. As the new lunar year begins, Sun City remains a beacon of hospitality and cultural exchange, ensuring that the spirit of the celebration continues to thrive for years to come.
