The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has received a briefing from the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, on the suspension of the National Gambling Board (NGB).
Earlier today, the Committee expressed appreciation to the minister for addressing the issues pertaining to the NGB in a decisive manner by suspending the Board and instituting a forensic investigation. The Committee rejects any claims that the Minister tried to avoid Parliament or that he was evasive on the matter.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, said the Committee, through her office, was informed of the situation at the NGB before it was made public in the media. Due to the schedule of the Committee and that of Parliament and its constituency period, a meeting with the minister on this issue could only be schedule on 14 October 2014. Closer to that date it became clear the minister would be overseas and the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations was also not available. The meeting with the minister was then rescheduled for today.
“I encourage and support robust oversight and full accountability from the minister, the department and all entities. This was the first available date that suited all the parties that needed to be in the meeting,” Ms Fubbs said. Ms Fubbs also highlighted the oversight responsibility of Parliament and said this got underway when the Committee interrogated the Auditor-General’s report on this issue during the Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report.
Regarding media reports and claims that she refused a meeting with the Chairperson of the NGB, Ms Fubbs said this allegation was without foundation.
Enquiries:
Rajaa Azzakani
Tel: 021403 8437
Cell: 082 560 9610
Email: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
