Gambling hall nod comes a month late

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's human settlements committee has finally approved a plan by businessman Stephen Dondolo for a gambling hall in Uitenhage – a month too late.

The future of what would have been Uitenhage's only upmarket hotel is uncertain as Dondolo said yesterday he had to think about whether he still wanted to pursue the development.

"I have not yet heard that the committee approved it. So I have not applied my mind to decide anything. I have to see what the approval says first," he said.

Last month, Dondolo, who hails from Uitenhage, told how his gambling licence application had been disqualified by the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board because it required confirmation from the municipality that the land use rights were in order. - Rochelle de Kock