North West MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Bitsa Lenkopane has urged Sun International to treat its Section 189 retrenchment process as a last resort, amid strong opposition from labour unions.
Lenkopane made the call after receiving a memorandum of demands from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and its affiliate, the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), at the Sun City resort on Wednesday.
The unions are calling for comprehensive consultations with key stakeholders and strongly opposing the proposed job cuts.
The demonstration formed part of a nationwide COSATU strike held on the World Day for Decent Work, with workers also protesting against the Section 189 retrenchment process at Sun International.
COSATU and SACCAWU argue that the planned retrenchments are unjustified, particularly given the reported growth in Sun International’s casino revenues, which reached up to R3.4 billion in the first half of 2026.
Speaking to Newsnote, Lenkopane said she had already written to Sun International urging the company to explore every possible alternative before proceeding with retrenchments.
“I wrote to Sun International three weeks ago, well before this protest march, to explicitly state that I will not agree to represent a workforce facing mass retrenchments, particularly when our province is already grappling with a severely high unemployment rate,” Lenkopane said.
She stressed the importance of Sun City to the provincial economy, describing it as one of the largest employers in the North West.
“We have previously emphasised that Sun City, among other key institutions and operations, is the largest employer in our province. Therefore, we remain hopeful that these retrenchments can still be avoided,” she said.
Lenkopane said her department would respond to the unions’ memorandum within seven days. The response is expected to include information on Sun International’s recent performance and the government’s relationship with the company.
“Regarding our relationship as a government with Sun International and Sun City, we will be able to outline recent developments that demonstrate how the government has created an enabling environment for them to thrive,” she said.
Lenkopane also sought to reassure workers and communities affected by the proposed job cuts.
“In my view, our people must not panic; we are representing them. Wherever we collaborate with private institutions, we will never agree to anything that disadvantages our communities,” she added.
The dispute comes as the Section 189 process continues to face scrutiny from organised labour, with COSATU and SACCAWU pushing for meaningful consultation and alternatives to retrenchments.
For the North West government, the preservation of jobs at Sun City remains a significant concern given the resort’s economic importan
