POLOKWANE – The South African Police Service in Limpopo in conjunction with the Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism witnessed the disposal of illegal Gambling Machines in a gambling month by the Limpopo Gambling Board on Wednesday 30 November 2022 at Bosveld Scrap Metal in Polokwane.
The Limpopo Gambling Board through partnership with the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies have successfully confiscated 397 illegal gambling machines in their operations within the Province in the current financial year.
On Wednesday, 30 November 2022 a total number of 214 illegal gambling machines were ready to be destroyed while previously 183 Illegal Gambling machines were destroyed in July 2022.
Provincial Head of the Proactive Policing Brigadier Isaac Mhlongo in his message of support in relation to the collaborative engagements with the Limpopo Gambling Board and other law enforcement agencies has expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the massive operations which yielded a great successes.
“As the police we pledge to take this partnership to the next level and aiming to squeeze the scourge of illegal gambling to zero and to sustain our partnership in the fight against crime to make the lives of our communities much better,” said Brigadier Mhlongo.
Brigadier Mhlongo further requested for the involvement of the Community to assist with information that can be used to combat this crime.
In conclusion Brigadier Mhlongo mentioned that illegal gambling is a contributing factor to our priority crimes as it is identified as a major Crime generator that need to be dealt with in a very serious light.
The legendary Gambling Board member Mr Serobi Maja inhis introduction of the MEC for the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mr Rodgers Monama, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies for the wonderful work of Curbing the scourge of illegal gambling in our Province and congratulated them in their tangible successes of their operations.
“It is evident that your Operations are for a better life and for making a safe environment for all the people in our Province,” Mr Maja said.
MEC for the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mr Rodgers Monama in his keynote address reiterated the gratitude and appreciation to the Police for the successful operations in partnership with the Gambling Board and other law enforcement agencies for confiscating those illegal gambling machines.
“For the survival of the Gambling Industry in our Province we need to combat this crime of illegal gambling. This illegal gambling affect our Provincial Economic System negatively. As we celebrate November Gambling Month we need to establish the manufacture and suppliers of illegal Gambling machines and bring them to the law enforcement to be prosecuted,” said the MEC Mr Monama.
In conclusion the MEC encouraged both the Police and the Gambling Board to sustain their partnership for the purposes of the legal establishment to provide Gambling and entertainment services in our province. “As we are here at Bosveld Scrap Metal today we witnessed this disposal of illegal gambling machines process which is a milestone to our province,” concluded the MEC.
Mr Matodzi Rathumbu on his Vote of thanks at the disposal of illegal gambling machines event acknowledged the partnership between the SAPS and the Limpopo Gambling Board and thanked everyone attended to this event of this magnitude.
Source: South African Police Service