JSE-listed Sun International on Wednesday said it has proposed to the Gauteng Gambling Board to build a R3 billion ($298.5 million) leisure campus in Tshwane’s eastern suburbs.

The hotel and leisure group said the large mixed-use zone – to be known as Time Square at Menlyn

Maine – will give local residents and other visitors a number of pastimes and attractions.

Tshwane is the other name for Pretoria, South Africa’s capital.

When completed, this complex will take the shape of an essential part of what is expected to be an R8 billion green mixed-use urban zone.

“(The urban zone) will have a “new shopping mall, a high-end residential component, an office park, hotels and an entertainment node,” Sun International said in a statement.

“Construction has already started at the wider precinct and R825 million of the Menlyn Maine development is… already… under construction.”

The Time Square entertainment zone will have a casino with more than 2000 “slot machines and 60 tables.” These could be increased as time goes by.

There will also be a 5-star hotel with 100 opulent apartments and 10 suites. These will include a conference and exhibition hub. There will also be an internal amphitheatre with 8 000 seats for global and local showbiz.

But the development of Time Square is dependent on the consent of the Gauteng Gambling Board.

“Should the necessary approvals be granted, Sun International will commence planning and construction of Time Square which is estimated to be completed within a period of 36 months,” Sun International said.

“Sun International through group companies will have a management contract and hold an effective 74.9% of Time Square.”

Real black economic empowerment (BEE) ownership is expected to be 25.1 percent. Time Square will generate 10 000 employment opportunities during the actual construction. It will create 2, 200 jobs when it starts operating.