THE FIRST PHASE OF A R220-MILLION casino and hotel complex has opened in East London. The Hemingways gaming and entertainment complex was built by South African group Tsogo Sun. Speaking at the opening, Tsogo Sun chairman Jabu Mabuza said "as a group, Tsogo Sun's philosophy is grounded in service to the community and we will commit ourselves to community projects." Partly-owned by Southern Sun and by empowerment shareholders, Tsogo has casinos in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu/Natal and Gauteng. Tsogo Sun Emonti, which developed the East London casino, has 24 per cent of its ownership in the Eastern Cape, while 55 per cent of its total equity is held by empowerment shareholders. The company has undertaken to employ 394 staff - which will increase to about 700 when the complex is completed. At least 30 per cent of the employees have never worked before or have been unemployed for three years. Sixty per cent of the staff is from formerly disadvantaged backgrounds and fifty per cent of the employees will be women. Tsogo has undertaken to employ disabled people and to develop skills, support small, medium and micro-enterprises and local business. During construction 602 direct and 1446 indirect jobs were created, Mabuza said. A children's Adventure Zone is due to open in December, and an adjacent 70-room hotel by February.