Makashule Gana, who is Rise Mzansi’s MP, has slammed Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie for what he describes as the soft promotion of gambling, particularly within black and low-income communities.
Gana’s remarks came during the parliamentary debate on the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture’s budget vote.
He accused McKenzie of using his public platform to subtly market gambling under the guise of community engagement.
Growing gambling crisis
“Minister, I saw your video on social media where you were giving away rugby tickets sponsored by Betway. I wasn’t disturbed by the ticket giveaway itself but by the soft marketing it represented,” said Gana.
“Let’s be honest, intended or not, that was advertising for a betting company.”
Gana went on to warn about the growing gambling crisis in South Africa, calling it a “silent pandemic” that is devastating communities.
“Gambling addiction is real and growing in our country. Families are losing their homes, children are going to bed hungry, and lives are being destroyed.
“These betting companies are flooding our communities with 24/7 advertising, promising instant wealth that never comes. Even schoolchildren are now being lured into sports betting.”
He stressed that there is a moral imperative for government officials to take a stand and not serve as de facto brand ambassadors for the gambling industry.
“If alcohol and tobacco can be regulated for the sake of public health, so can gambling.
“We cannot allow companies to profit off the desperation of our people. Let sport be a source of hope and inspiration, not a gateway to addiction and despair,” Gana urged.
Private sector sponsorship
However, McKenzie defended his decision to collaborate with betting companies.
He argued that private sector sponsorship, particularly from the gambling industry, is crucial to the survival and growth of South African sports.
“The Premier Soccer League is one of the best-run institutions in South Africa, and that success would not have been possible without sponsorship from the gambling sector,” McKenzie said.
“We, as lawmakers, have the authority to regulate gambling. Until such laws are in place, I will continue to support companies that are willing to invest in our sporting codes.”
He added that his priority is to revive corporate interest in sports sponsorship, regardless of the industry, as a way to uplift the sector amid shrinking government budgets.
The exchange underscores a growing debate about the ethics of gambling sponsorships in South Africa, especially in a country battling high unemployment and economic inequality.
