īritish rock band Queen's series of performances at the venue in October 1984 in transgression of the boycott caused considerable controversy, prompting criticism in the British music press, a fine from the Musicians' Union and their inclusion on the United Nations' blacklisted artists. Several acts disregarded the boycott and performed at the venue, such as The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Millie Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra (1981), Shirley Bassey (1981), Olivia Newton-John (1982), Dolly Parton (1982), Neil Sedaka (1982), Paul Anka, Status Quo, Rod Stewart (July 1983), Elton John (October 1983), and Boney M. To overcome this, Kerzner offered substantial financial incentives to performing artists to use Sun City as a venue.

The United Nations had imposed a cultural boycott on South Africa in condemnation of apartheid. Those factors, as well as its relatively close location to the large metropolitan areas of Pretoria and Johannesburg, ensured that Sun City soon became a popular holiday and weekend destination. It was officially opened on 7 December 1979, then located in the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana.Īs Bophuthatswana had been declared an independent state by South Africa's apartheid government (although unrecognised as such by any other country), it could provide entertainment such as gambling and topless revue shows, which were banned in South Africa. Sun City was developed by the hotel magnate Sol Kerzner as part of his Sun International group of properties.

It is made up of a number of themed sub-resorts with hotels on each, including the original Sun City Resort, The Cabanas, The Cascades and the Lost City (The Palace). The complex borders the Pilanesberg National Park. It is located between the Elands River and the Pilanesberg, about 140 km northwest of Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. Sun City is a luxury resort and casino, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. The Bridge of Time to the Lost City facing Sun central mall

Lost city hotel in sun city