By Sipho Masondo

Leisure group Embo has made presentations to the National Ports Authority (NPA) regarding its proposal to lease the parastatal‘s disused 133920m² land near the harbour for a R1,8-billion entertainment centre.

The spectacular development envisaged will be anchored by a casino.

Nelson Mandela Bay‘s only casino, currently at the Boardwalk, is up for renewal next year, and the Embo group is one of the two companies bidding for the new licence.

Embo spokesman Ben Nyaumwe said NPA chief executive Kgomotso Philele, to whom the presentation was made in Johannesburg last week, was “well pleased”.

“It was an extremely productive meeting. The chief executive (Philele) undertook to finalise the adjudication of the tender very soon. He is an astute gentleman,” Nyaumwe said.

“We presented the project. He was well pleased and the reception was good. We will now write to them and give them our timelines,” he said.

Embo‘s timelines required the land to have been awarded by the end of the month.

NPA spokesman Gugulethu Majozi confirmed the meeting with Embo. “Discussion are continuing, but we can‘t comment further as it is an internal matter.”

Emfuleni Resorts, which holds the current licence, is also bidding for the new one.

It plans to construct a R175-million five-star hotel and international conference centre if it is successful in its bid.

The life of the new licence will be extended from 10 to 15 years.

The winning bidder is set to be announced in August.

Source: Weekend Post