Community threat to close casino

Communities from 36 villages around Whittlesea near Queenstown have threatened to close the Queens Casino if they are excluded from its new gambling licence bid.

Mtshotshisa poured cold water on the trust’s claims, saying their fears were unfounded.

“There’s no such, these are unfounded fears. All we told them was that we are coming with a new system where they will get better money instead of the little they are getting from the shares.

“We were to introduce gross gaming revenue, which was to give them better returns.

“I am planning a meeting with them this Thursday. These people have been influenced.

“They are now making serious threats that can affect hundreds of employees,” said Mtshotshisa.

With the revenue the community has received so far it has:

• Invested in Sasol Inzalo shares;
• Invested in Ikusasa Green shares, a company that manufactures Roto-moulded cooler boxes;
• Established youth co-operatives;
• Set up a commercial sheep farming and wool production unit with modern shearing equipment;
• Set up a commercial cattle farming operation; and
• Established a network of seven co-operatives for sheep, each with 100 ewes and four rams, making the total flock 728.

“Through such projects, the trust has managed to get the youth of these 36 villages working.

“We’ve managed to develop these villages,” said Mrwebi.

Yesterday they were at the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board calling for the CEO, Mabutho Zwane, to intervene.

Zwane said they would understand when they saw the licence bid in writing. “We can’t respond today to them but in 14 days’ time, when we will put out an advert to newspapers about this bid that they are complaining about.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za