POLOKWANE – Asylum seekers have once again been identified as those largely responsible for the use of illegal gambling machines to generate quick cash in townships and rural villages.
A considerable number of such foreign nationals, granted refugee statuses into South Africa, also carried expired identification documents.
In the last six months, the Limpopo Gambling Board and police seized 48 illegal gambling machines in the Capricorn area alone.
In this district, eight suspects are from Seshego and two from Matlala. An additional 40 from other districts were also detained, all found to be foreign nationals.
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Arrests were instituted in reference to contravention of section 61(2) subsection (a) of the Limpopo Gambling Act, Act 3 of 2013, for keeping, maintaining and possession of a gambling machine without being licensed by the Board.
All the accused received J534 notices to appear in court, but opted to pay admission of guilt fines.
This announcement was made by Economic Development MEC, Rodgers Monama on Tuesday at Bosveld Scrap Metal, in this year’s second act of destroying illegal gambling machines.
“Unfortunately, income from illegal machines is not accounted for but funds criminal activities such as illegal cigarettes, illegal mining and the trafficking of humans. In worse cases, the cash is moved out of the province illegally, costing our fiscus dearly,” he said.
He said it has become apparent that over the years, a large number of suspects are not deterred by the fines they are given or arrests, which proves that current efforts to curb illegal gambling may be ineffective.
“In the past, we showed mercy by imposing monetary fines, but it proved less effective in curbing this scourge which seemingly found comfort in our province.
We must at all given times remain combat-ready to show those operating these machines the exit door and force them out of our province bleeding, limping, bruised and crying,” he exclaimed.
