The North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo led the Setsokotsane Programme in Matlosana to destroy illegal gambling machines which continue to infiltrate the gambling environment at the expense of legalized casinos and other recognized gambling facilities..

Mahumapelo said it should be recognized that the proliferation of such illegal gambling facilities have a very harmful effect on the economic growth of the Province as these people do not pay any taxes to the government.  

He said this exercise was part of Setsokotsane programme which was introduced by the Fifth Administration to fast track delivery of services within the communities of Bokone Bophirima.

During this exercise, the Premier was accompanied by two MECs for the Departments of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development, Ms Wendy Nelson and that of Local Government and Human Settlement, Collen Maine, the MMC for Finance for Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality and members of the North West Gambling Board.

The exercise which included the South African Police Service and the Hawks members started its programme through a compliance inspection in illegal business outlets operating in the town of Matlosana.  Most of these businesses operated limited payout machines (LPM’s) without proper licenses as outlined in the North West Gambling Act, Act 02 of 2001, as amended.

The Province has since the beginning of the year destroyed a sizeable number illegal machines and will continue enforcing the law especially, to outlets that operate illegally in Matlosana, Rustenburg and Brits as the most affected towns in Bokone Bophirima.

“Illegal gambling is affecting the revenue of the province tremendously as the traders are not paying for rates and taxes as required by the law and this impact negatively in the collection of revenue by local municipalities. The province end up not reaching the desired results of addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment within our localities”, said Mahumapelo.

He said also indicated that the Province needs to pull together through “Saamtrek-Saamwerk” philosophy to fight illegal gambling which he termed as “capital accumulation super highway that takes advantage of the poor.  He said social grants allocated to the poor are used in illegal gambling and exposed the poor to gambling addictions.

It is reported that unlicensed gambling operations collect approximately R500 000 in the revenue per annum.

Mahumapelo encouraged the North West Gambling Board to strengthen its working relationship with municipalities and all law enforcement agencies and Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to address this challenge that affect the revenue collection of the province.

He pronounced that the Province will conduct a social mobilization programme to educate communities about gambling and its effects.