Deidré Baartman
Minister of Finance, Western Cape Government
Deidré Baartman is the Western Cape Minister of Finance, a position she has held since her appointment in 2024. In this role she manages the province’s fiscal policy, budget, and provincial treasury, including the oversight of gambling taxation and regulation through the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
She holds a degree from Stellenbosch University. Baartman has become a prominent voice in the iGaming sector, speaking at events such as SiGMA Africa 2026, where she discussed the rapid growth of South Africa’s gambling industry, the R1.5 trillion turnover recorded in 2024/25, and the importance of responsible gambling and revenue reinvestment.
In July 2025, she chaired the first meeting of the National Gambling Policy Council in 11 years, signaling a renewed focus on coordinated gambling policy across the country.