New KZN public entities launched as licensing and gambling boards merge

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) launched newly formed combined public entities in Ballito, north of Durban, on Tuesday.

The new entities include the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA) from the merger of the KZN Liquor Authority and the KZN Gaming and Betting Board, along with the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA), which is established through the merger of KZN Tourism and the KZN Film Commission.

Edtea said the newly formed public entities had been years in the making and would contribute to the economic growth of KZN and create job opportunities.

MEC for EDTEA, Reverend Musa Zondi, said new public entities are designed to streamline operations, enhance service delivery and eliminate inefficiencies.

“This rationalisation process has been a cornerstone of our commitment to improve the way we serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal. By merging public entities, we are not only reducing duplication but also fostering a more co-ordinated approach to driving economic growth in our province.

As part of the national programme to rationalise public entities, Zondi said they had successfully merged four entities into two newly formed organisations.

“KZNERA will regulate and empower our province’s gambling and liquor industries, ensuring they operate within the bounds of the law while contributing to our economic growth.”

Zondi said the changes are structural and transformative.

“KZNERA will regulate and empower our province’s gambling and liquor industries, ensuring they operate within the law while contributing to our economic growth.”

KZNTAFA is established through the merger of KZN Tourism and the KZN Film Commission.

“This entity will be at the forefront of promoting our province as a premier destination for both tourism and the audio-visual industry. KZN-TAFA will drive sector development, create sustainable growth, generate job opportunities, and address historical imbalances in infrastructure, skills and resource distribution.”

Zondi said there had been duplication in the entities that were essentially doing the same work.

Paulos Ngcobo, from KZNTAFA, said: “It is the launch of a new brand as KZNTAFA. We welcome the amalgamation of the two entities to converge in a way that will lead to revolutionary change to promote KZN as a tourist attraction and film destination.

“The combination of these two entities has been years in the making and this will go down as a historic day.”

The Mercury