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Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has expressed its regret that the MinMec (committee of the minister and the nine provincial members of the executive committee) has not yet met to discuss the National Gambling Bill.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, said the Committee was deeply concerned that MinMec had not had a meeting. “We understand that attempts to convene this structure have been pursued by Minister Dr Rob Davies on several occasions but without success. If this is the case it creates the impression that certain provinces are deliberately preventing the Bill (the National Gambling Bill) from going ahead.”

Earlier in the day the Committee had a meeting with Mr Chophelikhaya Simoto, representing the South African Grooms Association (Saga), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) represented by Mr Mkoatse Mashamaite, Director of the Gambling law and policy unit in the Consumer and Corporate Regulation Division of the DTI.

The Committee listened to the complaints regarding the treatment of grooms as well as the state of their working conditions. Saga also highlighted its concerns with the Horseracing Industry Liaison Committee as it felt they were not getting the necessary assistance from this body. Saga requested that the National Gambling Bill be expedited as this would address some of their challenges and concerns.

However, the Committee indicated that some of the concerns raised by Saga will not find expression in the Bill. Ms Fubbs indicated that the majority of the challenges brought to the Committee’s attention by Saga fell within the mandate of the Portfolio Committee on Labour. Furthermore, that the Committee had already discussed this with its sister committee.

However, as fresh information was before the Committee, it would invite other associations involving the grooms and also the Portfolio Committee on Labour to conduct a joint meeting to resolve this challenge Clarity from Parliament’s Legal Services Unit on the process regarding separate legislation or amendment of existing legislation to address these concerns, which fall under the purview of the Committee, will also be sought.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry