SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
South Africa’s National Gambling Board is to be scrapped after controversy surrounding international expenses, according to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies.
The minister said that the National Gambling Board – which spent R4.1m (£230,000) on travel in the last three years, including a trip to Las Vegas which cost over R1m (£56,000) – told Parliament that the organisation would be rationalised – with plans to removal the board and replace it with a chief executive officer.
He said: “A study was commissioned and the final analysis came up with the recommendation that commissioners or chief executive officers be appointed as heads of entities reporting directly to the minister to ensure financial accountability in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, service delivery and speedy resolution of issues.”
The salary of the National Gambling Board chief executive will be R960,299 (£54,000) a year, with travel and accommodation allowances cut to about R500,000 (£30,000). As is ever the case, the National Lotteries Board has survived and retains a R2m (£112,000) travel and accommodation budget, although the National Lotteries Act has been amended to provide for the establishment of a commission.
