South Africa’s National Gambling Board has been without board members since 2014, when allegations of maladministration led to its placement under administration. All board members and the CEO resigned that year, leaving Caroline Kongwa to oversee operations as administrator and later as chief strategic advisor.
The DTIC has now advertised for applications to fill the long-vacant positions, marking a critical step toward restoring leadership to the regulatory body. Minister Parks Tau confirmed this during an October 2024 parliamentary session.
The board is responsible for regulating South Africa’s gambling industry, which generated R59.3 billion in revenue in the financial year ending March 2024. Betting has emerged as the largest segment, contributing 60% of the total, while casinos accounted for 29%. The board’s annual budget is about R280 million, and its duties include licensing oversight and combating unregulated gambling.
The DTIC has launched a forensic investigation into governance issues, including procurement for a new building and questions around remuneration and travel expenses. A draft report has been submitted but has yet to be made public. Ministerial spokesperson Yamkela Fanisi stated that the findings are being processed internally, with further actions pending the investigation’s completion.
This recruitment effort also aligns with the DTIC’s broader plan to address vacancies in other entities under its purview. These include the National Lotteries Commission, Competition Tribunal, and Export Credit Insurance Corporation, among others.
This leadership renewal is expected to stabilize the board and restore accountability within South Africa’s gambling sector.
© 2024 GroundUp. This article was first published here.
