Fighting all forms of illegal gambling

On 23 May the Vaal University of Technology Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park (VUT SGSTP) was honoured with a second visit from the Premier's office.

Hugh Makhaya, from the Gauteng Gambling Board, an agency of the Department of Economic Development which is headed by MEC Lebogang Maile, came to talk to the VUT-Sasol students who are being trained for entrepreneurship. The organisation's mandate is to regulate gambling in the province and to protect the public from gambling industries.

As the Honourable Premier mentioned in his speech on 18 May, VUT is seen as the key driving force behind new entrepreneurs that are needed in the region. So the importance of the visit was to have the aspiring entrepreneurs made aware of the dangers of gambling and being responsible in their businesses.

Makhaya differentiated between legal and illegal gambling and the risks which are involved in the process.

"If you look at our township businesses they are not doing as well; to the extent that we are even having business coming in from the outside. This is because many people don't know how to manage their money," said Makhaya during his talk to the students.

He went on to highlight the dangers of gambling and how a business's finances can be ruined by irresponsible playing and betting.

"As these students are being trained to be good entrepreneurs, they need to be reminded that ethics in business are essential. They need to align themselves with integrity and trust, and programmes such as these give them an idea of how they should conduct their business affairs - with honesty and commitment," said Sylvia Radebe: Project Manager.

The students were later given water bottles, T-shirts, key holders and power banks.