SENATORS have called for the establishment of the Gaming Addiction Fund stating that gambling is a sickness corrupting children.
The senators further argued that gambling was part of the main contributing factors to domestic violence and the destruction of families as well as contributing to the ever-increasing suicide rates in the country.
Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane was given 21 days to submit a report.
This was during the debate of a motion moved by Senator Fezeka Dlamini who moved that the minister should submit a report to Senate detailing, inter alia, progress that has been made in the establishment of the Gaming Addiction Fund as provided by Section 17 (1)(e) of the Gaming Control Act, Act No. 7 of 2022.
Also, how the Gambling Fund would be used, if already established, how it would assist persons suffering from habitual related gambling and what measures were in place to control the exposure of children and ‘prohibited person’ from gambling.
She moved that the report should be submitted to Senate within 21 days after adoption of the motion.
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While motivating for the adoption of the motion, the senator stated that she was concerned about the impacts of gambling in light of the prominent unemployment rate which exposed Emaswati to gambling.
She said due to the state of the country’s economy, gambling had become a way of life. The senator said habitual gamblers should be assisted through the fund as this was destroying many lives. She said children were also exposed to what she themed ‘a cancer’ clarifying that she was not against such, but called for warnings and support of addicted gamblers.
She said she was recently made aware of a father who sought prayer after he left work due to gambling addiction.
Seconding the motion, Senator Chief Zabeni Shiba said the main issue was online gambling as many people were now addicted to aviator gambling app (indiza), stating that one of his sons was also a victim.
Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli also raised a concern. He said this was not only a local phenomenon, as people across the world were exposed to gambling. This has led to the destruction of families and increasing divorce cases.
Senator Lindiwe Ngwenya said regarding the aviator gambling platform, some individuals she knew lost between E200 000 and E500 000 due to gambling addiction.
Senator Celumusa Mdvoti said the fund would go a long way towards assisting those addicted to gambling. He revealed that he knew of four SMEs who had lost their businesses due to a gambling addiction.
Senator Isaac Magagula also mentioned that gambling addiction was among the main causes of domestic violence.
“This is not new as during my time in the police service, I was exposed to many cases of domestic violence that were caused by gambling addiction. This has worsened over the years and needs to be addressed,” he said.
In response, Minister Mkhonta-Simelane said they were finalising the regulations, to provide for the establishment of the fund as well as rehabilitation centres.
She added that the ministry would also come up with systems to monitor vulnerable groups such as children to deter them from gambling.
The minister also called for parents to monitor their children in order to prevent them from being addicted to gambling. She assured to present the report within 21 days of adopting the motion.
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