ECGBB Chief off the Hook

I have often wondered how many people actually do follow up on the merits or veracity of accusations against someone that are leaked to the media. We like to think that everyone, including ourselves, is entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.

Let’s face it, headlines like; “East Cape Gambling Board Saga”, “East Cape’s Gambling Scandal” or even “CEO Hides Relationship with subordinate” certainly sell more newspapers than headlines that read; “Sorry ECGBB”, “CEO Aquitted” or “Bugger I was wrong to Accuse XXXX”.

In the case of East Cape Gambling and Betting Board’s (ECGBB) CEO, Mabutho Zwane the tale is one of survival after 3 years of accusations. The resultant shake up at the ECGBB has seen two well known and respected Port Elizabeth citizens as new appointees to the East Cape Gambling Board to help keep an eye on things, just in case.

The appointment of Zwane as CEO was recently at the centre of a three year dispute within the board who felt that Zwane should be disqualified from the position as the result of his allegedly failing to disclose his relationship with his then girlfriend and now wife, Nonkululeko Ngwane.

The board at the time felt that, in terms of the ECGBB Act, this relationship disqualified Zwane for the top job as he had failed to disclose it. (Eds Notes: Correct me if I am wrong but are prospective employers now allowed to ask you your marital status, sexual orientation and the like?)

It was also complicated by the fact that Ngwane later worked for an ECGBB board client, the Vukani group, which is the largest operator of limited payout machines in South Africa.

Nevertheless all charges against Mabutho Zwane were recently dropped, the ECGBB ordered to pay Zwane’s legal costs and he retained his position as CEO.

According to Eddie Botha writing for The New Age Online;

Advocate Vass Soni SC indicated that the ECGB Act never applied to his appointment.

Zwane was charged for his failure to disclose his relationship to Ngwane.

Zwane survived the controversy.

Under direction of Majombozi all the alleged charges against Zwane were dropped and Majombozi agreed that, apart from two months’ salary in compensation, the board would also pay Zwane’s R400000 legal bill.

Economic Affairs MEC Mcebisi Jonas ordered the board to resign following a forensic investigation by auditors Ernst & Young, which painted a bleak picture of the board’s financial and management operations under Majombozi.

But Majombozi’s name is missing as a new board member after his application to be re-appointed was dismissed by a selection panel.

“It does not matter to me who the new board will be. It will be a new start,” said Zwane.

He admitted there was room for improvement in the way the new board operated.

He [Zwane] is obviously aware that his performance will be scrutinized by the public and the new board. He seems determined not to disappoint.

The new ECGBB Board includes two well know Port Elizabeth residents in;

• Odwa Mtati, the ECGBB Board Deputy Chairperson (Odwa is the former PERCCI – now NMBBC) CEO and NMBT Chairman &
• Pierre Voges – The Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency CEO.

Their exploits and contributions to the city of Port Elizabeth and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole are well known and both are recognised as persons of integrity.

The full Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board consists of; Chairperson: Advocate Ncumisa Mayosi, Zukile Nomafu, Pierre Voges, Deputy Chairperson: Odwa Mtati, Mzwandile Vena, Vuyo Tshangana, Ms Phumla Nqakula and Ms Yoliswa Makhasi.

What Bloggers have said about Mabutho Zwane:

What Bloggers are Saying about the East Cape Gambling and Betting Board: