The Executive Council of Gauteng (Gauteng MEC) has named top South African lawyer Anthea Platt SC as the new chair of the Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB). 

The appointment of the GGB’s new leader was approved by Parks Tau, the executive member of Gauteng MEC’s committee for Economic, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development.

Established in 1995, the GGB serves as the gambling control and licensing board for the province of Gauteng, which includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.   

In her new remit, Platt will take leadership of GGB’s 12-man board, that is currently in the process of selecting a new leadership team for Gauteng gambling.

Last year, the Gauteng MEC was forced to suspend GGB Chief Executive Steven Ngubeni and members of the executive team for breaching the “Disciplinary Code and Procedures of the GGB”.

Platt joins the GGB, having formally served as a Senior Council Member of The Legal Practice Council, an independent organisation that provides legislative oversight on the development of South Africa’s legal codes.  

“As new members of the board, we are fully committed to regulating the gambling industry in a transparent, ethical, equitable, competent and efficient manner for the benefit of all stakeholders,” Platt commented on joining GGB.

“We will work hard to improve the regulatory framework while we also ensure that we embrace new technologies through the introduction of new gambling legislation for the province. 

“It is essential that we discharge our duties to maintain law and order in the gambling industry by making sure that the environment is fair, not only for the licensees but also for the punters and all affected stakeholders. It is essential that the GGB continues to carry out its mandate and further contribute to the economic recovery solutions of the Gauteng Province.”