Two Manenberg moms are behind bars after they were busted for running illegal gambling outlets on Tuesday.
Acting station commander, Colonel Harry Brickles, says the women were arrested during an integrated intelligence operation by the Western Cape gambling and racing board and Manenberg cops.
Cops searched the properties in Hex Crescent and Silverstream Road where they arrested the two aunties, aged 43 and 46, and confiscated their R2 slot machines.
‘Two females aged 43 and 46 was arrested for being in possession of these gambling machines without the necessary operating licenses, at two separate addresses in Manenberg. The community frowns on the operation saying that there are much more serious crimes happening but the focus is just not being in possession of these machines but there is no control of how many under age youth has been exposed to this type of gambling making it detrimental to the emotional wellbeing and could expose them to substance abuse due the lack of control.’
Brickles says money generated from illegal gambling leads to tax evasion and warns of the serious repercussions saying mense using their council huisies for illegal activities could face eviction. .
‘The women and mothers arrested in possession of these machines are not the owners and therefore a clear message must be sent out to our community to stop them from criminalising themselves by trying to make quick money by having these machines installed in their homes. They run the risk of being evicted by the City of Cape Town as these houses are part of rental stock or the premises could be forfeited to the state for being used in commissioning of crime.The two females will appear in the Athlone Magistrate court once charged.
Anyone with information regarding illegal gambling can contact Manenberg 0216999400 or crime stop 0860010111.
