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January 9 - The Gauteng Gambling Board, which regulates casino
gaming, horse race betting and bingo in the province, is currently embroiled in
a battle with the Department of Economic Development, which has demanded that
the GGB relocate.
The Board was given orders in October last year by the MEC in
charge of the department, Qedani Mahlangu, to move from their current address in
the north Johannesburg suburb of Bramley to the city center.
The official reason given was that the DED wanted to house all its
agencies in one building, and the Bramley address would be taken over by the
diamond beneficiation company, Wakegem-African Romance.
Questions have now been raised regarding the relationship between
Qedani Mahlangu and Wakegem-African Romance, owned by the brother of ex-minister
of environmental affairs, Valli Moosa.
The Gauteng Gaming Board's staff and management have ignored orders
to move to the city center, considering that it was only two years ago that they
were moved from Centurion in Pretoria to Bramley.
A signed memorandum was sent to management, outlining why the
Gauteng Gambling Board was defying the relocation order, complaining that
staff were not consulted about the move and deploring the unilateral decision by
Mahlangu.
"We, the Gauteng Gambling Board's staff, are dissatisfied with this
decision and the manner in which it has been handled and will not relocate as
instructed," read the memorandum. "Further, the GGB recently relocated from
Centurion to its current offices in Bramley 'due to operational requirements'
and therefore do not understand the logic behind the suggested move."
MEC Feels "Empowered" to Order Move
MEC Qedani Mahlangu is not willing to take what she considers a
mutiny lying down. She replied angrily to the complaints levelled against her
that she believed that she was "empowered" as MEC to order the agency to adhere
to her instructions, without the need to consult with them. She even threatened
to fire the acting chief of the GGB if her orders were not carried out.
"May I suggest that you speed the process of moving before I
lose my cool with you," she threatened in an email sent to him. "I want to
reiterate ... that the board has no role nor responsibility on this matter and
if they want to get involved in admin work I will remove all of the board ASAP.
If you have serious problems with my decision, please tender your resignation
with immediate effect.
Staff of the GGB said that they would turn to the public
protector, Thuli Madonsela to ask her to investigate the matter.
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