Manenberg SAPS arrested two women for being in possession of gambling machines without having operating licenses at two separate addresses in Manenberg.
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Manenberg police arrested two women, aged 43 and 46, for having gambling machines without the necessary licenses.
On Tuesday March 25, in a joint integrated operation, the police officers, accompanied by members of the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board, swooped on two houses.
Ian Bennett, Manenberg SAPS spokesperson, said the women were arrested at separate addresses. He added that people criticised police for the arrests, saying that more serious crimes should have taken precedence. However, he countered that the lack of control at gambling houses could lead to other, more serious crimes.
"There is no control over how many under-aged youth are being exposed to this type of gambling, making it detrimental to their emotional well-being and potentially exposing them to substance abuse," he said.
He added that the owners of the gambling macines were also often complicit in tax evasion.
The women who were arrested were not the owners of the gambling machines, he said, but warned that residents found to have installed illegal gambling machines "to make a quick buck" could also face eviction and asset forfeiture.
Anyone with information regarding illegal gambling can contact Manenberg SAPS at 021 699 9400 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.