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The Democratic Alliance calls on the MEC for Finance to speed up the
appointment of independent members of the Northern Cape Gambling
Board. The deadline for nominations lapsed in December 2014, following
the sudden invitation from the MEC to invite nominations for new board
members. It seems that not much has been done since the sudden
disbandment of the Board in 2014. For the sake of the gambling
industry in the province, it is imperative that a new board must be
appointed.
A Gambling Board must be up and running to combat the mushrooming of
illegal gambling, which is estimated to have cost the province R24
million last year. One of the hotspots of illegal gambling is in the
Kuruman region, where the Grand Oasis Casino was finally opened last
year after a seven year delay. We need an active, independent Board
which can investigate the circumstances surrounding the casino’s
license. The former Board’s utter reluctance to discuss anything
related to the Grand Oasis Casino raises concerns. It was widely
reported last year that the former Board allowed many concessions for
the late payment of fees by the licensee. Would these concessions have
been granted if one of the shareholders wasn’t a politically connected
individual with fingers in many provincial pies?
We want to remind the MEC that the appointment of the Board is not an
opportunity for him to reward his cronies. The former chairperson of
the Board was a close friend of the MEC and his law firm represented
various provincial departments in different legal actions. It casts a
shadow of doubt over the integrity of the Board as a whole when the
chairperson is seen to benefit from his personal friendship with a
MEC. The Board, as an entity with the power to give and revoke
licenses, must be seen to be impartial and unbiased.
The province needs an independent gambling board as soon as possible.
Issued by the DA
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