Durban - The DA has slammed the relocation of the KZN Gaming and Betting Board back to the Office of the Premier (OTP) as high-handed and unnecessary.
“The decision comes despite no consultation whatsoever with the province’s Office of the Premier portfolio committee.
“It also comes in spite of an earlier resolution that the Office of the Premier be kept purely as a co-ordinating department and not a revenue generating department,” DA caucus leader in legislature, Sizwe Mchunu, said.
He made the comments after Premier Willies Mchunu announced on Tuesday the relocation of the board from Treasury to OTP, after he was pressured by interest groups.
The DA caucus leader said the move showed little regard for the unnecessary administrative burden that would be brought to bear on OTP staff.
“The DA regards the premier’s move as redundant and haphazard. It cannot be that every time the ANC changes premiers, the Gaming and Betting Board is affected,” Mchunu said.
He urged the premier to revisit his decision and ensure the OTP focused on its core mandate as a government co-ordinating office.
The NFP’s Erickson Zungu said Mchunu should have tackled the root of the problem.
“Our concern is how you fix a problem with another problem. When there is a problem, you don’t move it between departments.”
He said Mchunu had too much on his plate in the OTP and added a burden by taking on the board.
“The Economic Development Department should be the one overseeing,” Zungu added.
The IFP’s Blessed Gwala pointed out that the IFP had originally placed the board under the OTP, when it controlled the province and said the ANC had moved it to spite the IFP.
“They were thinking that IFP will be frustrated when they changed the set-up,” he said.
Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, ANC caucus spokeswoman in the KZN legislature, said the ruling party welcomed the move.
“Previously it has always been a directorate under the OTP. At that time, although there were issues here and there that came up, it was not a big deal and not difficult to handle,” she said.
Simelane-Zulu said the executive should strategise to determine the correct location of the board.
“It is a matter that needs thorough consideration by the executive,” she said.
Daily News