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NGB Suspensions: Truth Revealed

Well now it’s starting to all unravel. At least that is one way you could look at new revelations from the Minister of Trade and Industry. As you may recall, the director of the Department of Trade and Industry, Mr. Robe Davies, wielded his hatchet recently and summarily suspended the entire South African National Gambling Board.

As you might expect, this move by the director turned heads all over the world. Many were shocked and puzzled by this move, perhaps even more so because the upcoming new online gambling bill is still on schedule to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2015.

Anyway, in an updated news release, a few more details were revealed. Specifically, there are allegations that the prior members of the National Gambling Board mismanaged significant amounts of money. Understand that the board was setup to manage and regulate the entire multi-billion dollar gambling industry.

Yet, this very same board managed to spend an astounding R2.7Million on travel alone in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. But it’s worse than it looks. Consider that of the R2.7Million spent on travel, a ridiculous R1.4Million ended up being spent on a conference set up in Norway last year. One can’t help but wonder what really went on at this conference with such a hefty price tag.

And that’s just the beginning. What about the fact that of the annual budget of R4Million, half of the funds were already spent. Worse still, apparently a significant amount of these so-called “expenses: turned out to be for what is loosely classified as “personal endeavors”. Personal endeavors indeed.

What about the additional allegations of intimidation and bullying? Or how about the alleged “theft of evidential material” at the National Gambling Board headquarters.

Well you know the old saying about the duck right? If it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, there are pretty good odds that it’s a duck. So far, that is pretty much what appears to be going on here in South Africa.

Yes, it’s true. At this point, these are only allegations. Sure, everyone respects the due process of law. Undoubtedly these investigations will be in the works for months to come. Yet, at the same time, you can’t help but wonder what effect this is going to have with the new online gambling bill about to be implemented.

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