POLOKWANE – Two hundred and forty illegal gambling machines were confiscated in the Limpopo province in the last six months.

This is according to Limpopo Gambling Board, an agency of the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department (Ledet).

Both entities were at the Bosveld Scrap Metals in Ladine, Polokwane earlier today to witness the destruction of these machines which Ledet MEC Rodgers Monama said puts ‘South Africa’s economy on its knees’.

Monama said a worrying observation is that foreign nationals who own spaza shops have been found to be prime perpetrators and import the machines despite the strong intelligence South Africa has.

“They are temporarily in the country as asylum seekers but their deeds are against the laws of this country. We therefore cannot, as government just fold our arms and watch our economy being robbed by people whose only interest is to fill their pockets without ploughing it back to the community that is so in need of service delivery,” he said.

Of the illegal machines, 67 were confiscated in Capricorn, 44 in Mopani, 42 in Sekhukhune, 62 in Vhembe and 25 in Waterberg.

Monama added that the justice system needs to tighten their belt in serving punishment to those responsible as a fine of between R500 – R1 000 is not enough to deter them.

“Most worryingly, some of the suspects are arrested more than once. It may be time that we impose a very heavy fine or jail sentences to show that we are serious about dealing with this scourge,” He adds.

Read more in this week’s Polokwane Observer issue.