Gambling licence in the balance
They also wanted Inkosi Lunga Baleni of the Amadiba community to be given royalties.
The Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB) says it will take into account issues raised at a public hearing held last Thursday when deciding whether or not to renew the Wild Coast Sun’s gaming licence which expires on August 31.
There are high hopes that the licence will be renewed as many people’s jobs are depending on it.
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At the hearing, the Wild Coast Sun Casino outlined its plans, should the licence be renewed.
These included programmes which would benefit the surrounding communities, in addition to plans for the casino itself.
However, community representatives raised concerns which they wanted addressed before the renewal of the licence.
Chief among their worries was the fact that top management at the casino was made up of people from outside the Mgungundlovu area, which provided fewer growth opportunities for the locals who are the primary beneficiaries of the casino.
They also claimed that learnership opportunities were given only to tertiary institutions outside the Eastern Cape province and none to universities in the Eastern Cape itself, where the casino was situated.
“Our people are not afforded the same working opportunities as those from KwaZulu-Natal, and such issues need to be addressed and taken into consideration before the licence is renewed,” said a representative from the community.
The representatives also claimed the Mbizana Development Trust, established in 2004 to manage a 30 percent stake in the Wild Coast Sun’s dividend proceeds on behalf Bizana communities, had reneged on its financial promises to uplift their poverty-ridden communities.
They also wanted Inkosi Lunga Baleni of the Amadiba community to be given royalties.
“The considerable benefits which are to be derived from this gambling licence must include benefits to our Inkosi, the royal family and the entire Mpondo nation.”
The representatives also accused the ECGB of failing to establish whether the Wild Coast Sun had been in compliance with the rules and regulations of the licence.
“We confirm that the Board conducted a public hearing in respect of the new application for a casino licence,” said ECGB spokesman, Pumeza George.
According to Ms George, the Board will now consider the application, and the representations made at the public hearing.
“These will be discussed at the next meeting in August, after which a statement will be released,” said Ms George.
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