Gambling board to hear views on casino

Artist impressions of Time Square at Menlyn Maine, a R3 billion entertainment complex development

Artist impressions of Time Square at Menlyn Maine, a R3 billion entertainment complex development

Published Jul 24, 2013

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Residents will be heard before a decision is made on an application for a casino licence at Menlyn Maine. This assurance was given by the Gauteng Gambling Board yesterday on an application by Sun International Limited to have its casino licence transferred from the Morula Casino north of the city to the new Time Square at Menlyn Maine.

The

Pretoria News reported on Monday that a group of 22 residents’ associations and interest groups, known collectively as the Joint Action Group (JAG), had expressed dissatisfaction with the City of Tshwane about what it called the “underhanded” ways in which the city had dealt with the Menlyn Node Spatial Development Framework of 2012 and developments in the Menlyn area. JAG is taking the issue to the public protector.

Sun International has advertised that it wants to transfer its casino licence from Morula to Menlyn Maine as part of a R3 billion entertainment complex development.

The casino would have 3 000 slot machines and 100 gaming tables – making it bigger than the casinos at Montecasino and Emperor’s Palace and, should the licence be granted, it would be completed in three years.

JAG told the Pretoria News it was “seriously considering” lodging a complaint with the Gauteng Gambling Board about the possible development of a multibillion-rand casino complex.

Fred Nel, Gauteng local government spokesman for the DA, said yesterday the “ongoing controversy surrounding the proposal fuels the need for proper consultation”.

Lucky Lukhwareni, head of legal services at the Gauteng Gambling Board, said the board would engage the public when the time came and when the process allowed for it.

He said Sun International’s application was open for public viewing for 30 days from July 16.

“Even the DA can come and if they are unhappy they can lay a complaint,” he said.

Once all the complaints had been received an investigator would work through the submissions and report back to the board.

The board would then publicly, through a notice, invite the public and all complainants to the meeting in which the board would decide whether the application had been approved or not.

“The public will never be disregarded. We will hear their complaints if they follow the correct procedure,” Lukhwareni said.

Sun International confirmed that the public could make submissions to the board but declined to comment on public engagement until the application process was complete.

The Pretoria News was also told that the chief executive of Sun International was travelling and could not answer enquiries.

Speaking in his personal capacity as a resident, Richard King, who is co-convener of JAG, said the City of Tshwane should be engaging with residents and the public rather than the Gauteng Gambling Board.

He said the city was simply passing the buck by referring the matter to the board.

“The city says the gambling board must oversee public participation, but the residents of the city want to speak to the city fathers. The city has ducked out on public participation on this one,” King said.

City spokesman Blessing Manale said the metro could not host public hearings on a licensing mandate because it did not exercise authority over it.

“We are equally an interested and affected party and will make our submission to the Gauteng Gambling Board on the various impacts and mitigation measures of such impacts should such a licence be granted,” Manale said.

The DA said it would follow the processes of the gambling board and the city carefully to ensure the rights of the citizens were not infringed upon.

“It is imperative that the board conducts a full investigation into the proposal. The board must also hold public hearings and allow for oral representations by interested groups, including those who object, as permitted in terms of the Gauteng Gambling Act 4 of 1995,” Nel said.

He said it was not only important for the board to meet residents in Pretoria East but also residents in Mabopane to ascertain what effect the transfer of the casino licence might have on local businesses and the community.

“Proper impact assessments must be done, including on the local infrastructure network and social fabric, and that social responsibility should form a cornerstone of any proposed casino development in the area,” Nel said.

“The city has repeatedly said it will engage with any investor and industry relocating operations in any node within its boundaries,” Manale said.

Residents have 30 days from July 16 to lodge their complaints with the Gambling Board.

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