Mpumalanga Business 2019/20 edition

We are committed to ethical principles of honesty, transparency,
integrity, non-discrimination, respect for human dignity,
professionalism and accountability. We are accountable to our
stakeholders for ensuring that the entity’s business is conducted
in accordance with the highest standards of corporate governance, as
well as ethical and moral behaviours.
SPECIAL FEATURE
We continuously monitor and review the regulatory environment
for opportunities to improve regulatory efficiencies and effective
enforcement of applicable legislation, as well as minimising
harm caused by problem gambling and the abuse of alcohol.
There are fundamental reforms on both the gambling and liquor
regulation underway.
A snapshot of the regulatory environment in Mpumalanga
• Since 1994, South Africans have begun to enjoy newfound
freedom to participate in all social spheres, including the
age-old recreational activity, gambling. By legalising this
form of entertainment, government ensured a decrease in
criminality and clandestine behaviour that existed prior to the
legislation of the sector.
• Mpumalanga was the first province to establish a gambling
regulator in South Africa, post the legalisation of gambling in
1994; and the first to introduce the legalised gambling in
South Africa, i.e. casinos and limited payout machines (“LPMs”).
• The MER and predecessor entities introduced various economic
growth projects in the gambling industry; 3 licensed casinos and
the fourth casino license which is still being considered,
2 route operators linked to 213 site operators, 8 bingo operators, 4
independent site operator licences, 37 betting outlets and
1 totalisator operator linked to 27 branches/agencies.
• The industry acts as a catalyst to create a thriving urban hub around
it, which includes malls, hotels and recreation facilities. Jobs are
created, new enterprises emerge, and inevitably, other investors are
attracted to the region. This type of symbiotic development of
infrastructure works hand in hand with the tourism sector,
contributing to the influx of visitors to a region.
Chief Executive Officer: Bheki Mlambo
• In addition, industry operators are liable to pay levies and
taxes, which contribute enormously to government’s social
development commitments. The MER takes responsibility for
ensuring that these finances are accurately tallied and collected.
• On 01 April 2016, the MLA was de-linked from the DEDT, to
become a stand-alone public entity, until the merger in October 2017.
In terms of liquor licences, the entity and its predecessor entities has
granted approximately 6000 liquor licences.
• The entity is incredibly active in promoting the safe and responsible
use of gambling and liquor as a form of entertainment. It’s no secret
that gambling and liquor can become habit-forming and have the
potential to affect not only families and their livelihoods, but the
economy of a region negatively, which
is something the MER takes very seriously.
• It is the board’s mandate to adopt an honest
and open policy when it comes to the potential
negative side of these two industries, by
educating people of all cultures and
socio-economic backgrounds to
gamble responsibly and
drink responsibly.