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Casino License Under Dispute in South Africa's Capital

The Menlyn Maine complex in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, is still waiting to hear if they will be granted a gambling license by the Gauteng Gambling Board.

Sun International Ltd applied to the board to have the license transferred from Morula Casino near Mabopane to the new Menlyn Maine complex in Pretoria, however there has been opposition to the development.

Despite the fact that the land has been zoned for a casino, opposition from the residents is strong and the council says the matter is out of their hands and in the hands of the gambling board.

Residents Strongly Oppose Casino Plans

The Gauteng Gambling Board, a leading gambling legislative body in South Africa, will need to make a decision regarding the Menlyn Maine gambling license, but has given residents time to voice their objections.

"The application has been lying open from 16 July until 18 August 2013, where anybody that wants to make representations can do so to the board," stated Bheki Nkosi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Gauteng Gambling Board. "Thereafter people will be requested to make oral representations at public hearings."

The land that has been zoned for the casino is behind a high school and near to a college. Residents have expressed concern that the placement of a casino in that area will have a negative impact on the vicinity. Ward Councilor Duncan Baker specified that he fears a casino may bring criminal activity to the area. He also expressed concerns over increases in traffic and noise.

Tshwane Metro Council Denies Responsibility

The Tshwane Metro Council has denied their responsibility over the licensing of the casino stating that anyone with an opinion on the matter should refer to the gambling board. Tshwane's Executive Mayor, Kgosientso Ramokgopa went on to say that municipality did not get a say in the matter.

Ramokgopa said that the municipality has been busy with issues related to densification of the area, racial integration and traffic congestion. "We have traffic engineers who would be able to address this problem," he said. "There will be a strong bias towards public transport."

The Tshwane Metro Council was criticized by the Joint Action Group - a group of 22 residents' associations and interest groups who claimed that the council acted in an "underhanded" way over the Menlyn Node Spatial Development of 2012, as well as other developments in the region.

The Strategic Land Development Tribunal of the council has rezoned residential properties for entertainment and has approved the removal of restrictive conditions.