The Decline of Fish River Sun Resort
The Fish River Sun, a prestigious hotel and golf course designed by Gary Player, has deteriorated, with the golf course now overrun by weeds. This resort was established in the Eastern Cape in 1989 by Sol Kerzner, founder of Sun International.
Built within the former Ciskei, the resort was part of Kerzner’s vision to open gambling facilities in the independent homelands during apartheid when such activities were illegal in the rest of South Africa. Fish River Sun was modeled after the renowned Sun City resort, featuring a hotel, casino, and an 18-hole golf course located by the popular Sunshine Coast between the Great Fish River and Old Woman’s River.
The hotel was situated roughly 1.2 km from the Indian Ocean, offering stunning ocean views. Alongside the golf course, it provided exceptional conference facilities and amenities like the Kamp Kwena Children’s Club, allowing parents to enjoy leisure while their kids were entertained.
Legal Struggles and Closure
Post-apartheid, new gambling regulations were adopted, and the casino license for Fish River Sun was shifted to the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in 1999, causing significant operational challenges. The resort faced severe difficulties due to an ongoing land claim by the local Prudhoe community, which embroiled it in complex legal issues regarding ownership.
In the late 1990s, the Mazazini, Prudhoe, and Tharfield communities claimed ownership of the land, leading to two decades of litigation. On April 10, 2018, the court recognized the Prudhoe community as the legitimate owners of the Fish River Sun land, but by that time, the resort had already closed in 2017 due to financial pressures exacerbated by uncertainty surrounding the land claim.
The Aftermath of Looting
In May 2023, the resort was ravaged by looting. A group of individuals forced the staff out and conducted widespread theft over several days. They vandalized the property, stealing televisions, kitchenware, and IT equipment. Following this incident, MahalaX, which held a 49-year lease to manage the property for the Prudhoe community, opted to withdraw from its responsibilities.
Current reports reveal that the once-celebrated Gary Player golf course is now overgrown, and the hotel’s structure has fallen into disrepair. Despite initial plans to revitalize the resort, progress remains unclear due to ongoing legal disputes and mismanagement.
Future Revitalization Plans
In June 2025, the Daily Dispatch highlighted a collaborative effort among local and international investors aimed at restoring the resort. Led by property entrepreneur Xoliswa Daku from the Daku Group, which previously collaborated with the late Sol Kerzner’s Kerzner International, the consortium includes executives from the multinational hotel chain The Lux Collective.
Investor interest was reportedly high, with R600 million allocated for the initial phase of restoration. Nonetheless, the revitalization initiative faces significant challenges, including disputes over developers and legal entanglements that stall progress. The future remains uncertain as independent administrators assess the situation to determine viable paths forward.
