It seems like the issues with the National Gaming Board are not going to be solved in the foreseeable future. More than a month ago, the Minister of Trade and Industry took the decision to suspend the National Gambling Board and accused the members of corruption and poor management, which was said to be among the main reasons that has led to the current pessimistic situation and, respectively, the suspension. The Minister was reluctant to give a detailed answer about the suspension, which made room for various rumors and speculations.
Nevertheless, the investigation continued and it has recently reached a new stage. The experts, in charge of solving the baffling situation, found out a pile of shredded documents, placed in five boxes. Needless to say, these findings caused a new outburst of negative comments and served as a convincing evidence that the members of the National Gambling Board used to take part in corruption schemes.
As a matter of fact, the bone of contention, that led to the Board’s suspension, was the disputable R-58 lease deal. Another factor, that made the Minister confirm the suspension, was the conflict, concerning the overdraft affairs, included in the Public Finance Management Act.
Later on, it became clear that a snitch had informed the authorities about the improper and illegal actions of the Board members and accused them of theft, intimidation and corruption affairs. Once enough evidence was gathered, the board was put under administration for an indefinite period of time or until the investigation is over.
As far as the new finding is concerned, Dean McPherson and Giordin Hill-Lewis, a member of the committee, visited the premises where the Board was located. The office, that is rented for the sum of R315, 000 monthly, tuned out to be too big and therefore unsuitable for the needs of the board. The investigators found the free space excessive, bearing the number of the members in mind. Surprising or not, instead of luxurious items, they found a bunch of shredded paperwork, gathered in five boxes.
McPherson commented that the documents, the authorities made attempts to destruct, were the minutes of meetings. According to McPherson, the shredded documents contained details about more than 40 meetings, which have been pinpointed on the television.
The members of the National Gambling Board were responsible for managing an industry that could bring an outstanding revenue. However, the reports showed net losses, equal to more than R4 billion.
A great part of the budget of the board was spent on staff complement. The overdraft and the R1 million spent on travelling were also a subject of discussion.
Another interesting fact about the Board was the change of the top staff. Several managers quit during the last couple of months.
Sidwell Medupi, the representative of the Department of Trade and Industry, didn’t reveal detailed information about the shredded documents. All he said was that the investigation was not over.
