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EBET WANTS MINISTRY TO ISSUE LICENCE TO SAVE JOBS

20/02/2024 15:08:00 Sabelo Majola

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MBABANE – EBet wants the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to issue it with a trading licence to continue operations and save jobs.

The ministry, through a statement issued on February 13, 2024, notified the public that EBet was prohibited from operating with immediate effect. The ministry, through the Eswatini Gaming Control Board, a statutory Board under the ministry, informed members of the public that Swazi Bet, trading as 8bet, had been granted a bookmakers licence to operate legally in the country.

Development

In an interview with EBet representative, Attorney Sibusiso Shongwe, he mentioned that owing to this development, emaSwati jobs were on the line. Shongwe previously revealed that at least 60 emaSwati were employed, courtesy of the company, and if the online gaming company was not operating, all these jobs were on the line. He said they were praying and trusting God that He would soften the minister’s heart, so that he notes the injustice that was unfolding in this matter and do the right thing. “EBet has been operating in the country for five years now and it has contributed to the development of the economy through tax. We have multiple emaSwati employed by the entity and they are taking care of their families, but they are at the brink of losing what matters most to them,” he said. Shongwe continued: “We are requesting government to give us an operating licence since it decided to take the one that we had and hand it over to others while prohibiting us from operating. We wish to continue our business and it is from that position that we humbly request government to do the right thing,” he said.

Issue

Principal Secretary in the ministry, Khangeziwe Mabuza, mentioned that, as much as she could respond on the issue, the Minister, Jane Simelane, was better positioned to do so. However, Simelane could not be reached for comment, as her mobile phone was not available on the network. It should be mentioned that prior to the recent statement prohibiting the operations of EBet, the ministry had issued one on October 31, 2023, where it was advising members of the public that a company called 8Bet had launched a betting website without acquiring authorisation from the Gaming Control Board. The members of the public were advised that in terms of Section 3(1)(a) of the Gaming Control Act, 2022; “A person shall not engage in any gaming or any event or contingency other than with a holder of a licence who is permitted under a licence to engage in gaming on the event or contingency concerned.”

... 55 pupils’ school fees paid

MBABANE – Despite having been stripped their operating licence, EBet has fulfilled its pledge of paying school fees for 55 high school pupils, who are less privileged. The pledge to pay the fees of the pupils was made before the announcement by the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs a week ago, that it was prohibiting EBet from operating with immediate effect. EBet representative, Attorney Sibusiso Shongwe said, inasmuch as they were currently not having it easy due to the latest developments, they were happy to announce that they had paid a third (33 per cent) of the overall school fees for the 55 pupils they had pledged to pay for.

Partnered

The entity partnered with the Times of Eswatini, with the latter mandated to identify at 1east 14 vulnerable pupils from each region. The 55 figure was influenced by the entity’s desire to celebrate with Their Majesties, during the country’s double celebration last year, as revealed by Shongwe. His Majesty King Mswati III celebrated his 55th birthday on September 6 last year, the same day the country was celebrating 55 years of independence. Some of the pupils visited the Times of Eswatini offices yesterday to get proof of payment. Shongwe asserted that the next payment (another 33 per cent) would be made at the end of March, while the final payment would be made at the end of April. “The priority was for the pupils to get in class and we would make the other payments in the subsequent months,” he said.