Sadha Naidu has been appointed to the new position of non-executive chairman of the Race Coast board in the Western Cape and KZN regions. Previously, Naidu held significant roles as chairman of Tourism KZN and Durban ICC.
Naidu, who was formerly a non-executive director of Gold Circle and played a key role in overseeing the transition period under Hollywoodbets to the current Race Coast structure, received this appointment this week.
In a statement, Race Coast announced that to optimize business processes across various racing regions, the group decided to unify the structure of individual boards within the Race Coast regions.
The statement noted that the launch of the new South African coastal racing operator was marked at the official presentation of the Race Coast brand in May 2025. Race Coast emerged from the merger of Gold Circle operations in KZN and Cape Racing, based in the Western Cape.
The statement emphasized that Sadha Naidu made a substantial contribution as chairman of Tourism KZN and Durban ICC, and also participated in various government structures, focusing primarily on job creation, business development, and governance protocols. His private business interests cover tourism and hospitality, as well as real estate and skills development, with a focus on KZN, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape.
Basil Thomas, speaking on behalf of the Hollywood Group, congratulated Sadha Naidu on the appointment, calling it well-deserved. He highlighted Naidu's invaluable institutional knowledge, stressing that he played an integral role in the transition from Gold Circle and its associated club structure to Race Coast. When Hollywood acquired Gold Circle, Naidu was invited to remain on the Race Coast KZN board of directors.
Thomas added that given Greg Bortz's recent retirement, it is entirely logical for Mr. Naidu to take on the chairmanship of both Race Coast companies.
The new unified board of directors for Race Coast in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal includes Zandile Maseko, Surena Rampersadha, Morgan Shandu, Dean Savardjit, and Kaamil Finch.