[10 Things I love About...] The West Rand

Shane Collinson, Director of Operations and Complex General Manager at Silverstar

In fact, he loves it so much that he would spearhead and oversee Tsogo Sun's R560m investment of developing Silverstar to becoming the entertainment destination of choice in Mogale City.

His knowledge of the area is varied and he is not shy to endorse the West Rand.

Shane is also quite knowledgeable about the tourist attractions in the area including the two major ones that are featured as the top five tourist attractions of Gauteng.

1. Convenient and peaceful: The West Rand is on the border of the madness of Johannesburg and the wonder of Magaliesburg and Muldersdrift.

2. Conferencing, wedding and get-away venues: The best-kept secret of the West Rand is the great function venues and hidden jewels it offers that you can escape to. Whether you're after a country wedding venue or a fun children's party, you are sure to find the perfect venue that will cater for your needs. There are beautiful lodges, unique bush pubs, beer gardens and farmhouses.

3. Food with flair: I'm an avid biker with a passion for superbikes and I love taking Satellite road on my Sunday bike run to Harties. Our corner of Gauteng is sprinkled with rustic restaurants and speciality establishments including Berlin at Ruimsig that offers delicious Eisbein, Gilroy's with its mouth watering pot pies and entertainment offering on Sundays and the Chicken Pie Farm close to Lanseria.

4. Hospitality and neighbourly love: People of the West Rand are kind to each other and always ready to lend a helping hand to their neighbour.

They are not lazy at all. They have the spirit of creating new opportunities for themselves and the society around them. The level of respect demonstrated by the people of the West Rand is evident in the way they treat each other, young and old. You can't help but to feel that you are home away from home when you are in this area.

5. Growing in leaps and bounds: Tsogo Sun is currently investing R560-million in developing Silverstar to become the entertainment and family destination of choice for the West Rand community. Taking its design cue directly from the scenic foothills of Roodekrans Ridge that surround Silverstar, the development is all about celebrating the great outdoors. The development is set to generate 350 jobs for the people of Mogale City.

6. New and exciting family entertainment: The new-look Silverstar will feature the second largest Magic Company in South Africa and the largest one on the West Rand. The big outdoor screen where sports matches such as Boktown will be screened measures over 10m wide by over 5m high with a total surface size of 62m². Publicity Grill and Bar where craft beer will be made is a restaurant where the whole family can enjoy a lekker braai. The Dome that is being built will have a seating capacity of 2,600 seats and will host shows and expos.

7. Silverstar's spirit of Ubuntu: Silverstar is dedicated to preserving the greenbelt of Roodekrans Ridge to a point that we've donated 10 hectares of land back to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden. We are also committed to contributing financially to the Black Eagles of Roodekrans.

8. Two of Gauteng's big five tourist attractions: The Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden and Cradle of Humankind, two of the big five tourist attractions of Gauteng are found in the West Rand. The famous Lion and Rhino Park is also in the vicinity and a popular tourist attraction. One cannot help yourself but be captured by the beauty of the rose farms in Magaliesburg.

9. Municipality with a Blue Drop rating: Mogale City's water is rated as Blue Drop and is apparently rated as the third best in the country from a purity perspective. Mogale City residents are very proud of this fact and take extra care to ensure the water retains its standard by being responsible for its preservation.

10. Last but not least: I continue to enjoy the beauty the West Rand has to offer, I am originally from Durban but it has nothing on the West Rand's splendour. I love the fact that Silverstar will put the West Rand on the map from a premier gamertainment and non-gaming entertainment perspective.

For more information contact Silverstar on 011 662 7300 or visit www.silverstarcasino.co.za.