Eden Flowers, a woman-owned business, creates breathtaking floral displays while nurturing local jobs and strengthening communities
This Valentine’s Day, Eden Flowers will transform Sun City Resort into a haven of romance. From enchanting hotel lobbies—including the Sun City Hotel, Cascades, Cabanas, and The Palace of the Lost City—to intimate restaurants and dazzling special events, every space will bloom with exquisite floral displays designed to set hearts aflutter.
Guests can also bring the magic into their own celebrations by purchasing flowers from Eden Flowers’ signature arrangements. Options include rose bunches, boxed flowers paired with chocolates, bouquets in vase displays, and curated goodie packages, available through concierge desks or conveniently via Netflorist.
Beyond Valentine’s Day, Eden Flowers plays a vital role in maintaining Sun City’s distinctive elegance. Weekly deliveries and daily refreshers ensure each hotel lobby radiates freshness and care. At The Palace of the Lost City, Eden Flowers manages the hotel’s flower shop and provides bespoke arrangements for rooms, suites, restaurants, and public areas.
This partnership was formally recognised in 2025 when Eden Flowers was named Sun City’s Service Provider of the Year. “The award reflects the business’s consistent quality, reliability, and contribution to the resort’s guest experience, as well as Sun City’s commitment to supporting high-performing local suppliers,” says Sun City General Manager Brett Hoppé.
Eden Flowers’ arrangements showcase a wide variety of South African indigenous and locally grown non-indigenous blooms, including proteas, lilies, strelitzias, brunias, celosias, hypericums, sunflowers, hannecoms, heliconias, gypsophila, lisianthus, and roses. By sourcing directly from farms across South Africa, Eden Flowers supports local growers while ensuring sustainability and freshness.
“Nothing says ‘I love you’ better than flowers,” is Eden Flowers’ guiding belief. “Our mission is to help people celebrate life’s milestones with fresh, locally-sourced blooms that feel personal and unique,” says owner and managing director Mmaphuthi Makokwe.
Eden Flowers is proudly black woman-owned, led by Makokwe, whose career spans banking and mining before she embraced entrepreneurship. What began as a creative side hustle in event décor and catering has blossomed into more than a decade of hands-on floral expertise. Today, Eden Flowers is a trusted hospitality partner and a B-BBEE Level 1 contributor with 135% procurement recognition, reinforcing Sun City’s commitment to supporting local businesses.
The company employs 11 people from surrounding communities—including Ledig, Phatsima, Mabele a Podi, Meriting, and Sun Rise—comprising managers, florists, trainees, and support staff. Through its partnership with Sun City, Eden Flowers contributes directly to local economic growth, skills development, and job creation.
“As I am committed to uplifting and supporting the local community by creating job opportunities and employing dedicated individuals from our area, Eden Flowers exists as a community-driven business where creativity, empowerment, and elegant floral designs thrive together,” says Makokwe, who took over the company in 2023.
Looking ahead, Makokwe envisions expanding Eden Flowers across the North West, establishing a flower arrangement school for young creatives, and ultimately developing an Eden Flowers farm. These ambitions are driven by a clear focus on creating more employment opportunities while continuing to supply Sun City and the wider region.
