Disgraced S.A. National Gambling Board members resign

According to reports in South Africa’s City Press newspaper, two members of the former scandal-plagued National Gambling Board (see previous  reports) have handed in their resignations just weeks before a forensic report by independent auditors Grant Thornton is due to be submitted to the government’s Department of Trade and Industry.

The investigators hope to submit their report by the end of January, according to the head of the auditor’s forensic division.

The two members who have allegedly resigned are board chairperson Linda de Vries and her deputy, Nana Magomola.

Approached by City Press, De Vries continued to protest her innocence, but said she had quit because she and Magomola had to carry all the costs of legal proceedings contesting their suspensions from the Board by themselves.

Matimba Macebele, another suspended director, said he had not yet been interviewed by the investigators. He is an SA Revenue Service employee, and said he had not resigned because he was nominated by the minister of finance to represent him on the board.

The DTI has announced that it intends to bring the NGB under its direct control, a policy decision which the suspended Board opposed.

The legislative changes necessary to implement the new policy and structure will be proposed to Parliament shortly; in the meantime two administrators appointed by the DTI are managing the Board’s affairs whilst its members remain suspended and the investigation continues.

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