When it comes to winners, the Millennium Mania machine paid out R2-million, and I remember the excitement of that winner. “A British customer once gave me one pound as a tip, which I asked if I could keep as a souvenir, and I still keep it in my wallet today. It seemed like we were in Hollywood, with the cameras flashing on us upon entering the Conference Centre – the glitzy decor, the mood and the music really made us feel like stars. Reminiscing about his time at Boardwalk, Siyanda says, “My first long service awards (five years) with Sun International was themed ‘Night of the Stars’. “We spent a night at the Fish River Sun, which, as my first-ever hotel stay, was extremely memorable.” He also took his first flight on a work trip, flying up to Johannesburg. It was drilled into us, and we lived it.” When he was promoted to slots floor operations supervisor, he received a full year of training.

We were taught Boardwalk’s mission statement and we composed it into a song which we sung at our training graduation. Many firsts, many memories He says, “Since the beginning, we have always been given proper training. He currently holds the position of gaming floor manager. It meant job security.” Over the years, Siyanda’s strong work ethic and dedication have seen him receive several promotions and additional training. Siyanda shares, “Boardwalk’s opening was an exciting opportunity for me, as I was doing piece jobs before it opened, such as working as a petrol attendant. Nonetheless, the day was a huge success and he soon found his rhythm. Adding to the stress of starting a new job, he forgot his belt, which was an essential part of his uniform (for hanging his keys on). He recalls the casino’s opening day, which attracted 20 000 people. Siyanda joined the Sun International beachfront casino in Gqeberha when he was 27 years old.

While the whole team is celebrating this achievement, for one of them – Siyanda Mtongana – it’s an especially important milestone, marking his 23rd year with the company. This year is the Boardwalk Casino’s 23rd birthday.

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