Author: Raymond Joseph
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) presented findings on corruption at the National Lotteries Commission to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday. While the SIU has taken measures to recover stolen Lottery money that was meant for good causes, it does not have prosecutorial powers. The SIU has referred 19 separate matters to the National Prosecuting Authority, but only one of these has made it to court. Out of 19 separate matters involving Lottery corruption that have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), only one is currently before a court, with no progress in getting the rest before the…
Minister of Trade Parks Tau says he will announce the winner of the eight-year lottery licence “on or before 28 May”. With Ithuba’s licence expiring on 31 May, lottery ticket sales will likely be suspended. Licence bidder Wina Njalo is proceeding with court action, accusing Tau of “frustrating” the licence process to favor Ithuba. Just weeks after issuing a temporary lottery operator licence tender, the minister responsible for the lottery has backtracked and now says he will announce who will run South Africa’s lottery and sports pools for the next eight years “on or before Wednesday, 28 May 2025.” Minister of Trade,…
After receiving R10-million from government in 2018 and a further R15-million from the Lottery in 2021, the National Academy of Africa’s Performing Arts in Soweto remains unfinished. The former arts minister said that the academy – headed by South African music icons Caiphius Semenya and his wife, Letta Mbula – would train future Grammy winners. The academy now wants another R28-million to complete the project. Meanwhile, the Special Investigating Unit has launched an investigation into the funds the National Lottery Commission (NLC) awarded the academy. The NLC has no documentation on the project except a letter acknowledging its funding application,…
Sanele Dlamini, former acting chief operating officer, and Sibonelo Vilakazi, a Durban-based client liaison officer, have had their appeals against summary dismissal from the Lottery rejected. Dlamini was found guilty on four charges related to approving questionable payments, providing dishonest recommendations, and dereliction of duty. Both officials have now filed complaints with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Two senior National Lotteries Commission (NLC) staff members have been dismissed after their appeals against their summary dismissals last year were unsuccessful. Sanele Dlamini, former acting chief operating officer, and Sibonelo Vilakazi, a Durban-based client liaison officer, appealed their dismissal findings last year,…
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has issued a closed request for proposals (RFP) for a temporary licence to run the national lottery for a year when the current licence expires in May. Concerns have been raised that only the present operator, Ithuba, has the infrastructure to meet the deadline and have the lottery up and running. The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) Board chairperson and the department have denied the RFP has been issued, saying the minister has not yet decided what to do. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has issued a closed request for proposals (RFP)…
National Lotteries Commission company secretary Nompumelelo Nene, who was facing 145 serious disciplinary charges, has resigned. Suspended on full pay over two years ago and facing serious allegations she had covered up corruption in the lottery, she earned nearly R6-million during her suspension. She resigned after defeats in court ended her Stalingrad legal strategy to stop her disciplinary hearing. Nene argued her suspension constituted unfair, constructive dismissal and was a fundamental breach of her employment contract. The Lottery says her resignation was an attempt to avoid a possible guilty finding. Suspended National Lotteries Commission (NLC) company secretary Nompumelelo Nene, who…
The SIU obtained an urgent interdict to freeze R10-million from the sale of a Waterkloof mansion linked to former National Lotteries Commission board member William Huma. An investigation revealed Lottery funds meant for community projects were diverted through various non-profit organisations and entities to allegedly pay for Huma’s luxury property. The Special Tribunal has granted an interim order preventing disbursement of funds pending the final hearing on 7 March 2025, as the SIU seeks to recover over R21-million in misappropriated funds. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) obtained an urgent interdict earlier this week to prevent an attorney from paying out the proceeds…
Minister Parks Tau has postponed announcing the new lottery operator for another 12 months, marking the third delay since July 2022. The lucrative licence is worth about R180-billion over five years. The current operating licence held by Ithuba expires 31 May 2025, but the bidding adjudication period for a new operator only ends May 2026. This has created uncertainty over what will happen to lottery ticket sales and NLC grant allocations after May 2025. The announcement of a new operator to run the South African lottery has been postponed for a further 12 months, creating uncertainty about the continued sale…
In 2020 the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) paid R498,000 to a private company to investigate a computer software breach that never happened. The company, Neo Solutions, is headed by controversial businessman Vivien Natasen. The amount paid was just under the R500,000 limit above which the NLC would have had to put the job out for tender. The new NLC board commissioned an investigation by TSU Investigation Services, which recommended that those involved in the transaction be reported to the police. The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) paid almost half a million rand in 2020 to a private company to investigate a…
In 2016, a R25-million Lottery grant was channelled through SASCOC to an organisation for a Rio Olympics “roadshow send-off”. Part of this was paid to a company belonging to the wife of the National Lotteries Commission board at the time. The Special Investigating Unit has referred the matter to the Hawks, and the National Lotteries Commission have also opened a case with the police. But there is growing frustration at the slow pace of the Hawks’ investigation. The National Lottery Commission’s (NLC) former board chairperson and its ex-chief operating officer, as well as former senior executives of South Africa’s official…
