This follows claims of bribery made by the Goldrush Gaming Group against the government’s owned entity official and a board member. The company alleges that its refusal to pay a bribe to the said persons of interest, the Gambling Board in return refused to renew its operator’s licenses. Meanwhile, legal manager at the gambling board, Jacob Montshioa, tells OFM News that they have since asked for proof of this bribery claims a while ago and to date, the company has failed to produce any proof against the said two people.

It was alleged earlier that over R1 million was paid to companies linked to the Chairperson, Lavelle Vere between 2017 and 2018.

Montshioa says the allegations made by the company are baseless due to the fact that the court order, dated 4 April 2019, dismissed an urgent application by Goldrush contesting the decision of the Board not to renew its licences.

“One of the fundamental license conditions imposed by the Board on the licensees operating in the North West Province, Goldrush included, is that the licensees must have equity ownership of 60/40 whereby 60% equity ownership is held by local previously disadvantaged individuals who are inhabitants of the North West Province,” he adds.

He adds that during September 2018, Goldrush out of its own volition and without obtaining necessary approval from the board chose to dilute the local shareholding by reducing ownership of local previously disadvantaged individuals to below the 60%-threshold in contravention of the license conditions. Montshioa says the non-compliance was brought to the attention of Goldrush and what the consequential effect would be, should the non-compliance not be corrected.

OFM News