Name: Langa Sun Hotel
Use: Four or Five Star Hotel
Floors: 32
Status: Proposed
Location: Situated on old Alexandra Hotel site in the Durban Point (former site of the San Raphael apartment tower development that was canned two years ago)


http://vne-resource.iol.co.za/24/images/site_header_1.gif


http://vne-resource.iol.co.za/24/picdb/page_thumbs/medium_new/page_14439222.jpg


Luxury hotel boost for Point

Suren Naidoo -- The Mercury (South Africa), April 06, 2009 Monday e2 Edition

Durban's Point is set to get a big boost with moves to develop a R500 million luxury hotel on the site of the old Alexandra Hotel and the landmark Smugglers' Inn Waterfront Bar.

The proposed development is being led by emerging black empowered leisure group Langa Sun Resort Hotels. It was announced at a briefing at the Durban Point and at an investors' dinner at Sibaya Casino at the weekend.

Mandla Nxumalo, the 31-year-old chief executive of the Langa Sun Resort Hotels group, is spearheading the project with others, including MP Linda Hlongwa, attorney President Ntshangase, Paton Taylor Architects and estate agents AIDA.

Nxumalo said the 32-storey, 315-room hotel would become "an icon" for the Point and the city because it would be the tallest hotel development in Durban in decades.

"It is the biggest hotel development yet announced for the greater Durban Point regeneration precinct," he said.

"Importantly, the landmark Smugglers' Inn, a listed building, will be incorporated as part of the development.

"We want to start construction in October and have it ready in 24 months," he said.

Eshowe-born Nxumalo is based in Mpumalanga and has five smaller African-themed hotel developments, under the EleZulu Resort Hotel name, around the country.

"The new venture will see three hotels built in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

"Durban-based hospitality group Three Cities has been identified at the preferred firm to manage these hotels, and the first is set to open in Durban," said Nxumalo.

"We chose the Durban Point because this is the future tourist hub of the Durban city centre. It is an amazing development and we wanted to be part of it."

Speaking at Sibaya, deputy mayor Logie Naidoo welcomed the proposed development, saying it was a huge vote of confidence in the Durban Point project.

However, questioned by The Mercury, Michael Lambert, the managing director of Three Cities, said that while Three Cities had been in discussions with Langa Sun three months ago about managing the hotel, no agreement had been signed.

"Nothing has been finalised from our side, and we stressed to them that we will consider managing the hotel only if it is up to our quality and design standards; if it is a four or five star hotel; and only if it is a financially feasible model," said Lambert.

Nxumalo said he wanted a leading hospitality player to manage the hotel, which was why Three Cities had approached.

In a related development, questioned by The Mercury yesterday, Billy Dixon of Property 031, which is handling the sale of the old Smugglers' Inn site, said that while a letter of intent had been signed for the Langa Sun developers to purchase the site, the transaction had yet to take place.

Dixon questioned the announcement, saying it was premature.

Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Ltd All Rights Reserved

Side view

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/LangaSunHotelDBN2.jpg


Front view overlooking Ushaka and Beach Front

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/LangaSunHotelDBN1.jpg


View overlooking the DBN Harbour

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k59/DURBAN2010/LangaSunHotelDBN4.jpg

in many ways its a better design than San Raphael imo, and i love how the tower part is twisted to an angle compared to the podium and streets

^^ ^^
As per the report and RomanSA's reiteration of the icon nature of this development - some important parts to that story was edited out - cos Zuma and the elections are the big news at the moment - I was surprised they even used it on the front page -

Anyway guys - I'm so addicted to this site now - that I'm even 'foruming' from Splashy - It's great - SA's longest running music festival - in the stunningly beautiful Southern Drakensberg - part of a World Heritage Site.
We went up the dramatic Sani Pass to Lesotho with Tourism KZN on Thursday - and had lunch at the 'Highest Pub in Africa' - It's a rugged and spectacular trip - and I think all South African's need to do it at least once in their lifetime!

- Back to Langa Hotel -
I really hope this becomes a reality! - I agree with the estate agent - the Langa guys were premature in their announcement. They have bold plans and real passion but are 'emerging' and unsophisticated property developers.

- Important parts edited out include:

* that the Langa Sun Durban will be both 4 and 5 star - with the top floors being five-star. AND, the ultra-luxurious presidential suite being on the top floor - boasting a
- PRIVATE ROOF GARDEN
- PRIVATE BAR AREA WITH POOL AND JACUZZI
- 24-HOUR SPECIAL 5/6* SERVICE
- AND - THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE HAVE A DEDICATED LIFT GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP FLOOR!
- THE LANGA DEVELOPERS WANT IT TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND LUXURIOUS PRESIDENTIAL SUITE IN DURBAN!

* AN ENTIRE FLOOR DEDICATED FOR THE HOTEL'S RESTAURANT (5TH)

* AN ENTIRE FLOOR DEDICATED FOR THE HOTEL'S CONVENTION FACILITIES

* A POOL BOASTING GLASS 'SEE THROUGH' WALLS

* SHOPS AND ALFRESCO DINING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE GROUND FLOOR

* FOUR FLOORS OF PARKING - WHICH MEANS IT WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED SHAKA'S GATE APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT

* LANGA HAVE SECURED SITES IN JOBURG (NEAR THE PLANNED AFRICAN PARLIAMENT) AND CAPE TOWN (IN THE CBD) - FOR ALMOST IDENTICAL HOTELS.

^^ ^^
As per the report and RomanSA's reiteration of the icon nature of this development - some important parts to that story was edited out - cos Zuma and the elections are the big news at the moment - I was surprised they even used it on the front page -

Anyway guys - I'm so addicted to this site now - that I'm even 'foruming' from Splashy - It's great - SA's longest running music festival - in the stunningly beautiful Southern Drakensberg - part of a World Heritage Site.
We went up the dramatic Sani Pass to Lesotho with Tourism KZN on Thursday - and had lunch at the 'Highest Pub in Africa' - It's a rugged and spectacular trip - and I think all South African's need to do it at least once in their lifetime!

- Back to Langa Hotel -
I really hope this becomes a reality! - I agree with the estate agent - the Langa guys were premature in their announcement. They have bold plans and real passion but are 'emerging' and unsophisticated property developers.

- Important parts edited out include:

* that the Langa Sun Durban will be both 4 and 5 star - with the top floors being five-star. AND, the ultra-luxurious presidential suite being on the top floor - boasting a
- PRIVATE ROOF GARDEN
- PRIVATE BAR AREA WITH POOL AND JACUZZI
- 24-HOUR SPECIAL 5/6* SERVICE
- AND - THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE HAVE A DEDICATED LIFT GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP FLOOR!
- THE LANGA DEVELOPERS WANT IT TO BE THE MOST EXPENSIVE AND LUXURIOUS PRESIDENTIAL SUITE IN DURBAN!

* AN ENTIRE FLOOR DEDICATED FOR THE HOTEL'S RESTAURANT (5TH)

* AN ENTIRE FLOOR DEDICATED FOR THE HOTEL'S CONVENTION FACILITIES

* A POOL BOASTING GLASS 'SEE THROUGH' WALLS

* SHOPS AND ALFRESCO DINING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE GROUND FLOOR

* FOUR FLOORS OF PARKING - WHICH MEANS IT WILL NOT BE IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED SHAKA'S GATE APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT

* LANGA HAVE SECURED SITES IN JOBURG (NEAR THE PLANNED AFRICAN PARLIAMENT) AND CAPE TOWN (IN THE CBD) - FOR ALMOST IDENTICAL HOTELS.

FYI :nuts:
Source: Group writers SA Date: 5 December 2004 Page No: 2
Publication: Sunday Tribune

Headline: Pirate's den gets new neighbours
Mention the name Smugglers' Inn to any red-blooded Durbanite and it is likely to raise a smile, an eyebrow or a chuckle - but it will definitely provoke a response.

Affectionately known as Smuggies, it was never far from the headlines, mostly for the wrong reasons because it first opened its doors in the early 1960s in Durban's unofficial red-light district.

Now just part of the derelict sky-line waiting for much mooted development, Smuggies is a ghost of its former self. If the walls of the Alexandra Hotel (in which Smuggies is situated) could speak, the stories will beat the best B-grade Hollywood movies or soap-opera plot lines.

Smuggies was first housed in the Criterion Hotel - a building with its own shady past. Built in 1856, the Criterion was once the world's only hotel to have a customs gate and immigration official to prevent smuggling.

It is likely that this is where the name Smuggies comes from. As with most harbour towns, Durban has had its share of characters that worked at, or frequented, the watering holes. As writer Lawrence Green recalls in his book Harbours of Memory, Point Road hotels had some of the "most talkative and wittiest parrots of all time".

And it was not just parrots who drank rum and could swear in five languages that made for many a tall story, but also the feisty barmaids, including Hellcat Peggy, who reportedly dealt with unruly customers by dragging them out of the bar by the ear - with her teeth. Some ears got bitten off in the process and, according to sailor lore, they ended up in a jar behind the bar as a warning to others.

Hellcat Peggy and the parrots might have disappeared, but Point continued to be the unofficial red- light district in Durban. Smugglers' Inn was opened in 1962 at the Criterion Hotel by Cecil Grieve. It soon built up a reputation, but a mere three years later, Smuggies had to vacate the property because the Criterion was to be demolished.

However, Smugglers' Inn continued to be a favourite drinking spot when it re-opened only a few metres from its original home. The new Smuggies moved to the Alexandra Hotel and had been "re-invented" several times. From music venue to strip club and most notably as an "executive gentlemen's club".

In the late 1980s the "who's who" in Durban was rocked when some top professionals were named as members of the Playmates Executive Club that was operating from Smugglers' Inn. At the time the owner, Grant Grieve, and his mother, Carol, were charged with operating a brothel from the premises.

Despite protests, the names of the 100 or so men were made public in court and published in the local media. The names on the list included accountants, attorneys and several high-profile Durban professionals. The Grieves were later acquitted, but it took a lot longer for some of the people involved to forget.

Smuggies itself quietly disappeared from the social scene, with just the name on the hotel a reminder of its hey-day. While there will never be another Smuggies, it is not out for the count.

With new development in the Point area, the Alexandra Hotel will be given a new, and respectable, lease on life. It will also boast a small gallery and a new and improved Smugglers' Inn.

In the past few years there has been a flurry of development in the Point but most of the old buildings on Point Road are still in a derelict state. Earlier this year, development of three city blocks in Point Road had been frozen by the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Council.

The affected area, known as the "Warehouse Group", includes 10 listed buildings and other landmarks like the Alexandra Hotel. At the time the Heritage Council said the new owners of the Alexandra Hotel had come up with an interesting proposal that would retain the old facade. But the developers, Donelly Projects, will also build a 33-storey skyscraper, the San Raphael, with 38 luxury apartments behind the Alexandra.

The building is named after one of the ships on which Vasco da Gama sighted the Bay of Natal on Christmas Day in 1497. With starting prices from around R2.5 million, the San Raphael will be out of reach for most Durbanites, but at least they can reminisce at Smuggies and create new, if less scandalous, memories for future generations.

lets wait and see how this one pans out. Do you know when the website will be working?

Langa Sun Resort Hotels to build luxury facilities in three cities
April 14, 2009

By SLINDILE KHANYILE

Langa Sun Resort Hotels, a newly formed hospitality company, will spend R1.5 billion over the next three years to build five-star-plus hotels in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg.

It hopes to recoup the investment by selling rooms for a 10-year period.

Mandla Nxumalo, the chief executive and chairman, said the company would broaden the shareholding by selling rooms at R20 000 each.

These owners would have access to the room for five nights a year and could rent it to the hotel operators or use it for personal needs.

"We have identified a gap in the market and believe this model will succeed" said Nxumalo. "Many people believe in our model - we even have an international investor backing these projects."

Nxumalo refused to divulge the identity of the investor who loaned Langa Sun the R1.5 billion or the terms of the loan. He also declined to name his partners in the venture.

He was prepared to say "politicians in the ruling party" were playing a role, but would not be specific about their involvement.

The hotels would have 32 storeys and 315 rooms each. Groundwork for the first hotel, in Durban, would begin in October and construction would start early in 2010.

Construction on the other two hotels would begin in the middle of 2010 and would take about 24 months.

Nxumalo said this was the best time to embark on these projects because prices had come down due to the economic downturn.

"All the material we need, such as steel, is cheap right now. When the economy recovers we will be done with the building."

He said the firm had not finalised the number of jobs that would be created during and after the construction phase.

Nxumalo is also involved in a company called EleZulu Hotel Resorts which is building five hotels to capitalise on the 2010 soccer World Cup.

Meanwhile, businessman and soccer legend Jomo Sono said he had scaled down on the number of hotels he was building due to the turmoil in the financial markets. Instead of spending R600 million building six hotels, he would build two.

"There is no need to go mad in this environment. If you want to go under, ask for R600 million in this market," said Sono.

http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=563&fArticleId=4933425

Awesome news!

Oh so they're all going to be 32 storeys? Interesting...I wonder where the Cape Town hotel would pop up.

International unnamed investor and ruling party politicians involved.... I only see one result if this is the case....
never built nice proposal

Oh so they're all going to be 32 storeys? Interesting...I wonder where the Cape Town hotel would pop up.

They may have problems coming up with the money while SA is in the midst of a severe recession.

International unnamed investor and ruling party politicians involved.... I only see one result if this is the case....
never built nice proposal

I agree. It's a pipe dream.

They may have problems coming up with the money while SA is in the midst of a severe recession.

I think "severe" is more the word used to describe what's happening in the US...

I think "severe" is more the word used to describe what's happening in the US...

No it is happening everywhere in the world. and the US is not the worst affected. Singapore today said that their economy will decline by 9% this year and see no growth next year. Both Taiwan and South Korea will see their economies decline by 10% in 09. It's happening and better get used to it as I think SA will see two solid years of recession as the socio-economic situation in SA is far worse than Asia since 40% of the workforce is unemployed and still rising. Economists here in SA say the economy will contract 3% this year while there will be nil growth in 2010. The World Cup will only add 0.4% to GDP which won't do much to alleviate the situation.

OK, so if Singapore's economy is receding by 9%, and we're receding by 3% this year and have no growth next year...how exactly can you call the two situations equal? In the words of Trevor Manuel himself: South Africa's economy is doing better than expected at the moment.

We have the world cup, ipl, confed cup, British lions, and a few others. Plus our economy is still getting impetus from all the the infrastructure projects. We are hanging in there very well - and our tourist industry looks set to survive these tough times, unlike most other tourist industries in the world - like in oz, where it is in absolute freefall!

Just saying that it is worth pointing out that SA is doing well in comparison to, well, just about anywhere.
Must be something of a surprise to those nasty expats who trumpeted that SA was a banana republic BEFORE the recession...dream on...

my 2 cents
been in the US (coast to coast) and the UK in the past month. Just back from SA last week and the difference is astounding.

US and UK in deep shit, shops cloased lesft right and centre, general negativity everywhere, its all people talk about.

Sa was more measured in its view on the global crisis but I dont think its hit SA 100% yet. SA is better placed based on FICA and the credit cointrol act hense less toxic debts but its exports will be hard hit which in turn pulls doewn manufacturing and mining (sas 2 top GDP earners)

Sa needs to drop intrest rates faster than they have and to feed more into national infrastructure projects.

Sa is generally in a bettr position but should not let complacency take root

Our high intrest rates saved our ass big time, tho I think our current period is our hardest hit time, though some economist claim the worst is still to come, but Im not so sure about that.

Australia is bad news everywhere- we the taxpayers having to foot the bill for PM Kevin Rudd's stimulus packages (3 so far) that will mean a huge deficit for year's to come. And interests rates in OZ are at 3% down from almost 8%-lowest since 1959. Buildings are being cancelled as well. Not pretty!! ZA is better off (for the moment anyway) so enjoy it...

my 2 cents
been in the US (coast to coast) and the UK in the past month. Just back from SA last week and the difference is astounding.

US and UK in deep shit, shops cloased lesft right and centre, general negativity everywhere, its all people talk about.

Sa was more measured in its view on the global crisis but I dont think its hit SA 100% yet. SA is better placed based on FICA and the credit cointrol act hense less toxic debts but its exports will be hard hit which in turn pulls doewn manufacturing and mining (sas 2 top GDP earners)

Sa needs to drop intrest rates faster than they have and to feed more into national infrastructure projects.

Sa is generally in a bettr position but should not let complacency take root


Yup - it is coming. I work in the bulk shipping industry and see it first hand. althought wheat and soyabeanmeal ( for animal feed ) imports have not reduced significantly, the volumes of ferro alloys and minerals being exported has plumetted. Companies like Xstra are shutting down furnaces left right and centre.

A number of the ships that you see anchored off Durban are not waiting for berths, they are no trading. Pics of ships laid up off Singpaore are doing the rounds and it is scary how things have tailed off.

If interest rates are lowered surely we will see investors putting money into long term plans that will boost the local economy - wind and solar farms are expensive and take a long time to recoup the capital, however we have wind and we have plently of sunshine. Likewise we have huge agricultural potential but need to invest heavily in both training and equipment.

lower interest rates may mobilize idle money ( and there is still plenty of that lying around in Europe ) into our economy.

A number of the ships that you see anchored off Durban are not waiting for berths, they are no trading. Pics of ships laid up off Singpaore are doing the rounds and it is scary how things have tailed off.


Shit, Ive noticed that, but that thought hasnt struck my mind. My boss just flew in from singapore the other week and as he flew over the outring of the harbour he took some snaps from the plane at the number of ships out there doing nothing. Its scary to say the least, also got that email thats doing the rounds, not a good sight.

I've just had a connecting flight in Singapore and the number of ships was astonishing. This pic just shows a small section but it was the best I could do.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6913/singaporeharbour.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=singaporeharbour.jpg)

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JT_oezalp0bpaB1Uf1ST9Q?feat=directlinkI've just had a connecting flight in Singapore and the number of ships was astonishing. This pic just shows a small section but it was the best I could do.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/6913/singaporeharbour.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=singaporeharbour.jpg)

so QuickSilver and Die Kapenaar whats the noise here? website still not set up. Have they secured the land? come on journa's you are supposed to follow up when you attempt to splash something like this across the papers

Ok guys so i have done the digging here. Had a meeting with the developers. This one is def going ahead with construction to commence on site in october. It will b a 5 star resort hotel to b run by the three cities group. Saw many additional renders of the development which were seriously impressive! so good work done by the architects paton taylor. They also informed me that work is advanced on plans for two additional hotels in cape town and sandton, with another in Umhlanga in the conceptual stage. So exciting stuff that this beauty will b joining the point skyline!

Woo hoo!

Great news Mike, thanks for the info.

Ok guys so i have done the digging here. Had a meeting with the developers. This one is def going ahead with construction to commence on site in october. It will b a 5 star resort hotel to b run by the three cities group. Saw many additional renders of the development which were seriously impressive! so good work done by the architects paton taylor. They also informed me that work is advanced on plans for two additional hotels in cape town and sandton, with another in Umhlanga in the conceptual stage. So exciting stuff that this beauty will b joining the point skyline!

Great Great news! So if they start in Oct, it should be done in about mid 2011? - if all goes to plan that is.

Any chance to get those renders?

Will get the renders as soon as the website is launched which will b later this week or early next. But i will try scan the brochure i have. Very good news and in the region of 240 suites

Yes, please scan the render.

Excellent news indeed!

so same site and its the new San Raffael

Yup same site, and the design is imo an improvement on san raphael. Its more sleek, more glass and more street interaction. They also said they had to slight reconfigure their design as another development for the site next door has managed to secure rights up to 150m. So we could hear of another development before year end.

^^ great news for the year Mike. Keep on digging for more.

Yup same site, and the design is imo an improvement on san raphael. Its more sleek, more glass and more street interaction. They also said they had to slight reconfigure their design as another development for the site next door has managed to secure rights up to 150m. So we could hear of another development before year end.

is site next door not that spindal tower , that 36F glass one?

^^ Its a "no name tower"...ya, will dig and see what i can get

Yup same site, and the design is imo an improvement on san raphael. Its more sleek, more glass and more street interaction. They also said they had to slight reconfigure their design as another development for the site next door has managed to secure rights up to 150m. So we could hear of another development before year end.

Very intriguiging. Let's hope both towers actually go ahead. I'll only believe when I see pick and shovels on site. However, I have to admit, there has been action around these sites in just the last few days. For one, pavements with tile paving are currently being created around both sites. Saw workers busy cutting and levelling the pavement yesterday, and paving tiles awaiting unwrapping and laying close by.

Why do they want to build this over the San Raphael site? The san rafhael could have been revived like that new point tower...They didn't give it a second chance as the economic downturn gets better :ohno:.

^^ different people bought the site mate. Its basically the san raphael design but has been tweeked, this happens all the time everywhere, and in this case its for the better imo

Gone very quiet again, but I did find this:

http://www.langasun.com

This what you were talking about Dysan?

Actually, it's not that quiet. Two days ago I saw that demolition boards and earthmoving boards have been erected on the site.

Gone very quiet again, but I did find this:

http://www.langasun.com

This what you were talking about Dysan?

as my post of a few days ago said... I chatted with them, work starts oct and website will be launched shortly. Nothing more to report than that

mike you got a height when you chatted to them?

only the 33F figure. They want to add a "glass shard" that reaches a good 15-20m each into the air, but are seeking approvals

http://langasun.com/images/langa.jpg

gosh they are selling already???

Such a cool project. Wow, can't wait to see some progress...

ok so the Langa Sun website is up and running now... www.langasun.com

It is going to be a 300 room 5 star hotel, loads of info i cant cut from the site, but here some images, go to the site to view the better quality ones...

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa8.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa7.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa6.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa5.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa1.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa4.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa3.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/langa2.jpg

Looks awesome..

Iconic it def will be...

Not bad. Reminds me a bit of Hibernation Towers is Strand.

I like it alot, exactly what Durbs needs.

Not to sound negative, but if this ever gets off the ground i will be very impressed.

wow that view from some of those rooms will be mesmerizing

I like it alot, exactly what Durbs needs.

Not to sound negative, but if this ever gets off the ground i will be very impressed.

i agree. We have to be very sceptical of any multi storey project in sa right now. The only really big one's actually underway are the pearls, the one's in strand which are finishing up and the one's nudging 20f in sandton. This would be amazing if they do go ahead as planned. The only positive i take is that the developers have a fantastic langa sun offices in my building, kitted out really well. They have started sales of the packages and keep telling me they start in october. I take that as good news, but seeing construction start and the building to rise is the cherry we need. So lets keep a look out in october

I take it this one's gone quiet?

There office is still buzzing on a daily basis, so anything but dead hey. will pop in to see whats up

dno how I missed this one, renders look good. Will give the website a squizz now.

PP Girls, here's the thread.

There office is still buzzing on a daily basis, so anything but dead hey. will pop in to see whats up

Have you done the honour? There website is no more.

Has the Langa Sun in Durban been canned? Apparently there is now a Sandton Langa Sun happening near the planned African Parliament in Midrand. Three Cities Hotel Operator seems to be involved. Does anyone know of this one?

^^ that was the second of the 3 planned. The guys offices are still abuzz with people. Personally i think everything has been put on hold waiting for the economic turnaround (like the pause on most high rise developments across the whole of SA)

Lets see what happens here...

Taxi operators move into hotel business
13 October 2011

The National Taxi Alliance has adopted two major projects that are set to revolutionise the livelihoods of its members and industry.

The alliance, which represents an estimated 60,000-70,00O taxi operators in SA, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Langa Sun Resorts Hotel to build three new hotels in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg at a total cost of R1.5 billion.

Taxi operators will, through their trust fund, own 90% of the new hotels, while the Langa chief executive Mandla Nxumalo will keep the balance.

NTA general secretary Alpheus Mlalazi said the capital would be raised from its structures over the 28-month period. Construction on the Durban hotel is scheduled around February next year.

"We want to acquire assets that we would use as collateral where ever we borrow money for the benefit of the members. Secondly, members will benefit directly from the hotel operations," he said.

In another development, NTA has adopted a franchising model, which seeks to turn around most people's image of the taxi industry.

"[Taxi] operators are unable to maintain their vehicles properly because of affordability problems. These include things such as high cost fuel, tyres and spare parts. We want to ring fence all those through a franchise that would be owned by the taxi industry.

NTA taxi operators and affiliates will own the bulk of the franchise at 85% and 10%, respectively, while 5% will go to potential investors.

The alliance also blasted Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele, calling for his resignation over alleged incompetence. "The industry, which transports between 65% and 70% of the commuting public in the country, remains unsubsidised, whereas other modes of transport are," Mlalazi said.

He added that the taxi registration process, which sought to eliminate turf wars along routes, had now stalled.

SANTACO Hotel?

Could be interesting..

Chickens and goats all over the place....

Taxi industry is starting to innovate. Good for them, let the haters hate, the money keeps flowing though...

That article is almost identical to Langa Sun-related articles released in 2009, including them wanting to build three hotels in CT, DBN and JHB to the tune of R1.5 billion. Work was supposed to commence "shortly" all the way back then, so we'll have to see if they mean business this time around. SANTACO have been snappy with their airline, however, so they deserve props for that.

^^ kitting one plane they do not own or rent out in branding is not really snappy... they need the flights to start.

HOWEVER, this is not Santaco really. As i said, it will be interesting to watch what happens. Langa Sun had very fancy offices in my old apartment building in Umhlanga, with models of the point tower etc. They seemed very serious and as i said previously, seemed to be holding off until the market corrected itself. If they start in feb, they are likely to open in 2014, which is when things are likely to pick up properly again in the hotel market.

^^ kitting one plane they do not own or rent out in branding is not really snappy... they need the flights to start.

Well they've certainly gotten the ball rolling faster than Velvet Sky did. One plane kitted out is better than a website.

Well no, they did a PR launch to bring the politicians on board. Velvet Sky never once did any public communication for the entire 2 years they used to set up their business. We spoke about it, not them once. And since launch they have been really aggressive in expanding their network.

No point having a big PR launch, with a plane you wont even be using, not being able to confirm what planes you will actually end up using etc. That approach is setting you up to fail as you have not got any of your ducks in a row and does not help build confidence in a brand that already comes with so much negative equity.

You do have a point...

Taxi industry is starting to innovate. Good for them, let the haters hate, the money keeps flowing though...
+10000


I was saying teh same thing to my friends regarding their airline of which I will use as often whenever I fly. These guys needs our support. VIVA Taxi industry.

the only problem people have with the taxi industry (the haters) is that if you want to be big business and corporate and want people to take you seriously, then be professional, pay tax, deal with your problem children and maintain a proper safe fleet.

How many taxi accidents have there been in the past 3 months alone with so many commuters killed by bad taxis and bad drivers. They need to weed out the un roadworthy taxis, create an insurance fund to compensated paying commuters that are involved in accidents and killed by poor taxis and drivers.

Ie take responsibility for once.make sure every driver has a public drivers license, every taxi is road worthy, every taxi has paid its insurance and third party etc etc etc

Once they do this they will be taken very seriously as they are an integral part of the economy.

However I doubt there are 60 000 operators in SA. Most operators own huge fleets of taxis so maybe there are 60 000 taxis or 60 000 drivers but not operators.

You do have a point...

hahaha oh dear ...bad pun

The most important part - Taxis should abide by the the law and respect other road users ! But im looking forward to driving up North in December . Our Fortuners got a big arsetralian bull bar and a loud horn . I just love giving taxis a groot skrik when they try and push in front of me . I owned Polokwane rush hour last december ;)