Clean-ups along more than 3km of Durban’s beachfront were the focal point for Tsogo Sun and environment partner Miss Earth SA on World Oceans Day on 8 June, in response to the harsh reality that an estimated 6.4 million tons of litter enters the oceans every year â€" and 80% comes from land, according to Miss Earth SA’s Ella Bella Leite.

The clean-ups began at two Tsogo Sun properties: Garden Court South Beach in the south and Suncoast Casino precinct in the north, and met up at Tsogo Sun’s Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel.   The gathering, comprising Miss Earth SA regional semi-finalists and Tsogo Sun Volunteers from the group’s Durban properties joined together to raise awareness about the devastation caused by the pollution of our oceans, and in particular plastic pollution.

World Oceans Day has been recognised by the UN since 2008 and is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a better future. About Tsogo Sun’s involvement, the Group’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Candy Tothill explains: “As part of Tsogo Sun Environment within our Citizenship portfolio, our Durban beachfront clean-up represents the group’s official activation for this important day on our environmental awareness calendar.  The overall theme for World Oceans Day 2017 is “Our Oceans, Our Future” and the conservation action focus is “encouraging solutions to plastic pollution and preventing marine litter for a healthier ocean and a better future”.  Our activation on this occasion was therefore aligned with these â€" and harnessed the collective commitment of our caring people through the Tsogo Sun Volunteers to demonstrate this.”

Miss Earth’s Ella Bella Leite says, “Miss Earth and our partner Tsogo Sun last year launched the #WasteStopsWithMe campaign, which draws attention to the way that citizens waste â€" which includes rubbish waste as well as the flagrant wasting of water, energy and food. Our clean-ups form part of this over-arching campaign.”

Miss Earth South Africa is a leadership programme that empowers young women with knowledge and a platform to make a sustainable difference in combatting the destruction of the country’s natural heritage, while creating awareness of sustainable development, and the environment, wildlife and conservation of South Africa’s natural legacy. Miss Earth engages with and educates a new group of young, dynamic and influential women each year, involving them in waste projects and community mobilisations, and encouraging them to play their role in recycling, reducing, reusing, and rethinking.

“Essentially we have one global ocean that connects us all around the world. Tsogo Sun and Miss Earth are committed to providing education about environmental issues to young South Africans and encouraging communities to adopt a responsible attitude towards the environment. By going out on World Oceans Day and cleaning up the Durban beaches we practised what we preach â€" and hopefully inspired the public to adopt the #WasteStopsWithMe approach,” concludes Tsogo Sun’s Candy Tothill.

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.

…ENDS

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

Priya Naidoo | General Manager â€" 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 Citizenship is the group’s corporate citizenship strategy which encompasses three areas of focus. This includes Corporate Social Investment, whereby the group promotes the development of learners through three academies which offer holistic, full-year programmes centred around sport, art and education; Entrepreneur Development which focuses on skills-based entrepreneurial development through its Tsogo Sun Entrepreneurs and Supplier Development programmes; and Environmental Education, committed to initiatives that reduce the impact the business has on 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.