IT'S a war against gambling.
Political party RISE Mzansi has taken its fight against the terrifying gambling addiction gripping South Africa straight to the corporate headquarters of betting giant Betway.
This daring move comes as Mzansi citizens are reportedly "choking" under a gambling crisis that's destroying lives and livelihoods across the country.
The shocking scale of the addiction was laid bare in Parliament by the National Gambling Board (NGB).
It said R1,5 trillion was spent by South Africans on gambling during the 2024/25 financial year alone.
This is a massive jump from the R1,1 trillion wagered the year before. And the problem is getting worse, fast!
Rise Mzansi National Assembly Whip MP Makashule Gana is leading the charge, saying the fight to fix the broken gambling industry can't just be talked about in Parliament.
Gana confirmed he marched straight into a boardroom meeting with the CEO of Betway and his executive team.
He didn't come to chat. He came to deliver Rise Mzansi's 7-Point Plan to reform gambling.
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The party has issued a stern warning. If the gambling industry refuses to work with lawmakers and make serious commitments to reform, but instead "sits on the sidelines," the outcome for them "will be undesirable".
While citizens are losing their homes and futures, the gambling operators are smiling all the way to the bank, the NGB revealed.
Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) for operators has skyrocketed from R59 billion (2023/24) to an eye-watering R75 billion (2024/25) - an annual growth of 26%.
This makes it the fastest-growing industry in Mzansi.
The operators only paid a "low" R5,8 billion in taxes, which is a measly 7% of their massive revenue.
"As the gambling crisis continues, operators are smiling their way to the bank while lives and livelihoods are destroyed," the National Gambling Board told Parliament.
