Tsogo Sun and Proudly South African partnered to host a lavish ‘Women in Business’ lunch on 8 August at Southern Sun Hyde Park, under the theme of, ‘Own your throne’, with celebrity and businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, Executive Chairman and CEO of Basetsana Woman Investment Holdings, delivering the keynote address.

Explaining the theme, Candy Tothill, Tsogo Sun’s GM of Corporate Affairs, at the lunch quoted Marion Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?...”

The glamourous event featured TV presenter Leanne Manas as MC, welcome addresses by Tsogo Sun’s Candy Tothill and Happy MaKhumalo Ngidi, Chief Officer of Marketing & Communications, Proudly South African, and the post-lunch keynote address by Basetsana Kumalo. Excellent entertainment was provided by The Sax Player, Rike Coetzer, and later by brilliant South African comedienne, Khanyisa Bunu, who will be opening for Trevor Noah in his tour which runs in Johannesburg for three days from 9 August.

Proudly South African’s Ngidi said, “This year Tsogo Sun and Proudly South African partnered to present this spectacular lunch which acknowledges how remarkable women are. We each own our throne today and celebrate together our individual and collective strength.”

Tothill noted that Tsogo Sun’s celebration of women is born of the reality that the group bucks the global trend in its representation of women in its workforce – 53% of Tsogo Sun’s 14 500 employees are women. “This focus is also strongly reflected in the fact that 45% of Tsogo Sun’s management are women, and 39% of our executives and senior leadership comprise women. Senior leadership is thus substantially higher than the national average of 29% reported in the 2017 Grant Thornton International Business Report.”

Through its far-reaching Citizenship portfolio, Tsogo Sun also uplifts women in empowerment programmes that include Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs that supports 200 businesses across South Africa, 164 of which are women-owned, and the Miss Earth leadership development programme that empowers hundreds of young women to become environmental youth ambassadors and role models in our society.

Invited guests at the Tsogo Sun Women’s Day event included businesswomen, entrepreneurs, media, drivers of change in corporate and community environments, and women who share Tsogo Sun’s passion for building up other women.

Tothill urged the guests, as beacons of hope for all young women who are starting out in their careers, “to play your part in creating a strong sisterhood of support for yourselves, for each other, and for them, and continue to be shining examples of what it truly means to ‘own your throne’.”

Tsogo Sun’s portfolio includes over 100 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations throughout South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi. For further information, visit tsogosun.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like on Facebook /TsogoSun.

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ISSUED BY TSOGO SUN HOLDINGS. FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:

Priya Naidoo | General Manager- Group Communications | Tel: 011 510 7583 | Fax: 011 510 7231 | Cell: 084 440 0022

About Tsogo Sun
Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality and exciting entertainment and leisure experiences. Combining an established heritage with a professional and energised approach, the group proudly encompasses 14 casinos and over 100 hotels in South Africa, Africa, the Seychelles and Abu Dhabi.

The company’s hospitality interests offer a wide distribution of hotels in Africa, providing world-class accommodation across all markets, including elegant, individually branded luxury hotels and well-known trusted market leaders in the premier through budget segments, including Southern Sun Hotels, Garden Court, SunSquare, StayEasy and SUN1 hotels.

The exciting urban and resort casino portfolio includes the most popular entertainment destinations, strategically located throughout South Africa. In the Gauteng province, Tsogo Sun owns the group’s flagship property, Montecasino in Fourways, which features, amongst other attractions, the award-winning Teatro; Gold Reef City Casino and Theme Park in Southern Johannesburg; and Silverstar Casino to the West in Krugersdorp. Additional properties are owned and operated in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, including the jewel on Durban’s Golden Mile, Suncoast Casino, Hotels and Entertainment.

Tsogo Sun is proud to be a Level 1 B-BBEE Contributor with 135% B-BBEE procurement recognition status, 62.1% black ownership and 34.4% black women ownership.  Tsogo Sun invests substantial resources into developing skills, supporting emerging businesses, nurturing communities and creating awareness about the importance of conserving our environment.  The cornerstones of Tsogo Sun Citizenship are managed as part of the group’s sustainability and growth strategies within the specific areas of community, entrepreneurs and the environment.

Tsogo Sun (“TSH”) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.  The key shareholders of Tsogo Sun are Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (“HCI”), a JSE listed investment holding company.

Tsogo Sun Gaming supports the National Responsible Gambling Programme. Winners know when to stop.  Only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to gamble. National Problem Gambling counselling toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008.

For more information, go to tsogosun.com, follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TsogoSun or like us on Facebook /TsogoSun.