Pioneer Slots hits the jackpot with 1 000th machine in play

Dressed to the nines and the triple sevens, Nelson Mandela Bay’s top business people, gaming licence owners and leaders turned out in numbers to celebrate Port Elizabeth based Pioneer Slots’ significant achievement – that of putting its 1 000th machine into play. Held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Thursday last week, the cocktail function was attended by several high-profile guests. They included provincial Economic Development and Tourism MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, Bay deputy mayor Mongameli Bobani, former mayor Nceba Faku and businessmen Nceba Moss and Alfred da Costa. The businessman of the moment, however, was entrepreneur Stephen Dondolo who, besides his involvement in a range of other successful enterprises, is the chief executive of the African Pioneer Group, which owns Pioneer Slots. Acknowledging Dondolo’s achievements, a range of speakers pointed out that among other initial challenges, Dondolo had started the Pioneers Slots initiative with no capital. The cherry – two of which form Pioneer Slots’ logo – on top for Dondolo was the fact that the gaming firm is the first to have 1 000 machines placed within 3½ years since its inception. Pioneer Slots was also celebrated for its support of black enterprise, with its machines having been placed at black-owned venues, and for its contribution to the GDP of the province. Somyo commented how pleasing it was to see the many Pioneer Slots vehicles on the road and, in congratulating Dondolo, commented that“his success is our success”.