Publications
Partners
Cape Town - The National Gambling Board, which was suspended after spending millions on foreign travel for the last three years, is set to be abolished and replaced with a chief executive officer, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said on Tuesday.
He was replying to Dean Macpherson, a DA MP, who asked what progress had been made by his department on the rationalisation of boards reporting to him and what allowance was made for fees relating to travel and accommodation of board members and salaries of chief executives or commissioners.
Davies said that in the case of the National Gambling Board - which spent R4.1m on travel in the last three years, including a trip to Las Vegas which cost over R1m - “rationalisation means the removal of (the) board” and replacing it with a commissioner or chief executive officer.
The same would apply to the National Credit Regulator and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, the minister reported.
“A study was commissioned and the final analysis came up with the recommendation that commissioners or chief executive officers be appointed as heads of entities reporting directly to the minister to ensure financial accountability in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, service delivery and speedy resolution of issues.”
The salary of the National Gambling Board chief executive will be R960 299 a year.
Travel and accommodation allowances have been cut for the National Gambling Board for this financial year to about R500 000.
The National Lotteries board, however, continues to enjoy a travel and accommodation of about R2m a year. The National Lotteries Act had been amended to provide for the establishment of a commission.
This board would ensure that the commission performed its function efficiently and effectively, Davies said. The board would continue to administer the National Lotteries Distribution Trust fund.
Asked what the salaries were of the CEOs and commissioners of the various entities under his watch, he said the following:
The National Lotteries Board CEO earned R2.1m a year,
The National Empowerment Fund CEO earned R3.5m,
The National Credit Regulator CEO received R2.5m,
The Export Credit Insurance Corporation chief executive earned R2.9m,
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission commissioner earned R1.6m,
The National Consumer Commission’s commissioner earned R1.5m and
The Companies Tribunal full-time tribunal member earned R1.3m.
- Fin24
