Trade and Industry: Vote 31

Tuesday, 11 June 2002

Speech by Kent Durr, MP (NCOP)

African Christian Democratic Party MP and NCOP member Mr. Kent Durr gave the following speech today regarding the Trade and Industry: Vote 31


We have much to be grateful for and much is being achieved in our society, also in the Ministers Department however, there is a key question we are asking of ourselves as a nation and that is, are we turning the tide against the current moral disintegration and with it a sense of hopelessness we see around us? A review of South Africa’s National Anti-corruption Agency report of August 2001 tells its own sad story.

Gambling and its camp followers, prostitution, and alcohol abuse continues to be promoted under our government.

How does one transform a society that demands that decadence be tolerated and even flaunted in the way that we do. How do we balance and allow the freedoms in our society not to erode the very value that underpins that liberty.

The reality is that the values that inspired the great and prosperous nations remain the same, despite the modernization of our systems.

I wish to turn to gambling. As Christian Democrats we are against it; but even if we were not, the question needs to be asked, are the public getting value for their money?

We have 10 gambling boards in South Africa, run by 16 Chairmen, 10 CEO’s and staffed by 274 officials, spending some R121, 471,000 million per annum, to regulate an industry which is failing to deliver taxes in any significant way. An industry which has brought huge social costs and human misery and very little public benefit. An industry which has diverted income from more productive avenues of expenditure such as food, education, housing, clothing etc to self-indulgence and deviance.

How does one explain that the Western Cape Gambling Board Chairman receives a R681,909 payment package per annum and in the North West, the man earns R12,025 or in Gauteng R40,132.

Or that Gauteng spends R25,815,000 with 74 posts to do what the North West does for R3,000,000?

Should there not be a massive rethink on this profligacy and bureaucracy gone mad.

Should the Minister not launch an enquiry to investigate that rationalization of these regulatory authorities?

If we have to have it, let it at least be cost effective.

It is the time for damage control and no further licences should be issued until we have considered the real costs to society.


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For further comment please call Kent Durr MP at 083 280 2674 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 478 1037