Confusion remains over SA gambling board suspension
Interim administrators tell parliamentary committee only trade and industry minister Rob Davies can provide clarity
Confusion remains over last month’s suspension of members of South Africa’s National Gambling Board after a parliamentary committee was yesterday left frustrated in its attempts to solve the issue.
The board’s interim administrator Tumelo Baleni was grilled at a committee meeting yesterday with MPs questioning why several members of the board were removed from their positions.
However Baleni said only trade and industry minister Rob Davies could reveal the information, leading committee chairwoman Joan Fubbs to request that Davies issue an explanation in writing by Friday (17 October).
The only information the Department of Trade and Industry has released to date is that the suspensions were made pending the results of a “forensic investigation”, information which DA MP Geordin Hill-Lewis described as “fishy and suspicious”.
It has since emerged that the National Gambling Board incurred a SAR4m deficit in the 2014 financial year, with approximately half of its SAR33m budget being spent on personnel costs and an additional SAR2.7m spent on travel and accommodation.
Baleni said yesterday that the deficit had been caused by an overcommitment on rental which is currently under investigation and said the board would be in “further trouble” if it was not dealt with.
It is thought the suspensions will little impact on the gambling reforms in the country which are currently ongoing.
The Bill is currently passing through South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, with further progress expected before the end of the year ahead of a prospective go-live date in Q1 2015.