Parks Tau, the trade and field minister, has postponed naming a winning bidder to run South Africa’s lottery once the tenure of recent operator, Ithuba, finishes in May well following yr.

Ithuba’s licence was thanks to own expired in May 2023 but was prolonged for 2 a long time by Tau’s predecessor Ebrahim Patel following a ask for with the then freshly-appointed board from the Nationwide Lotteries Fee (NLC).

The Board, which was dealing with the corruption that had overwhelmed the NLC, also suggested Patel of representations by Ithuba that it had been severely influenced because of the Covid pandemic. This included a ban on the sale of lottery tickets at the peak of your pandemic.

With regards to the extension, Ithuba had to create contributions towards the NLC for distribution to good causes at the next fee than presented for in their First licence.

New licence operators are provided 6 months to create infrastructure, such as ticket equipment countrywide, to consider about from your former operator before the incumbent’s licence ends. This most current postponement ensures that there won't be sufficient time for any clean changeover and It is unlikely that Tau will prolong Ithuba’s licence yet again.

The whole process of appointing a new licence operator has also been suffering from allegations of conflict of fascination and other issues.

GroundUp has learned which the NLC has contingency options in position to carry on funding fantastic brings about for around a year Should the lottery plus the sale of lottery tickets are suspended.

The contingency also covers funding during the function of litigation by getting rid of bidders whenever a new operator is at last announced, which could also derail The graceful operating of your lottery.

In case ticket income are stopped, the NLC will use its reserves of R3.nine-billion to carry on funding qualifying organisations, a resource with expertise in the contingency program advised GroundUp.

In his weekend statement saying the postponement, Tau mentioned: “However, I am not in a position to create a final choice at this time. Any these final decision at the moment would in all great conscience mean which i have not utilized my mind with owing consideration of all the appropriate elements.”

“I have discovered matters that call for additional evaluation. It will be inappropriate to reveal these concerns now as well as their disclosure could pretty effectively prejudice the right adjudication of your awarding of the licence.”

Tau stated he was awaiting suggestions on The easiest method to ensure the continuation from the lottery within the interim and also the “improvement of the programme to finalise this method”.

This, he mentioned, must be finished immediately after consultation Using the Countrywide Treasury.”

Tau also hinted with the political make-up with the consortiums bidding to the licence as A further doable cause of the postponement.

He claimed: “I need to also make certain that the owners and administrators of your effective applicants are, given that the Act states, ‘match and suitable people’. On top of that, I must make certain that no political occasion or political office-bearer has any immediate money fascination while in the applicant or maybe a shareholder of your applicant.”

Business Day claimed Beforehand that the majority of of the businesses shortlisted with the tender are politically uncovered.

The Gold Rush consortium is led by high-profile businessperson Sandile Zungu, who challenged with the ANC KwaZulu-Natal chair position in 2022 in advance of dropping out immediately after he failed to garner ample support, the paper noted.

A different politically related bidder is HCI, that is greater part-owned by the South African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union, an affiliate of Cosatu, that is in alliance Along with the ANC. CEO Johnny Copelyn donated to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s CR17 marketing campaign with the ANC presidency.

Another shortlisted bidder, according to Enterprise Working day, is Thebe Investment Company, which was Launched by ANC leaders in 1992. Thebe is fifty percent-owned by Batho Batho Have confidence in. The rely on has donated R60-million to your ANC considering that 2021, In accordance with declarations made to your electoral commission.

Ithuba, the holder on the licence, is usually inside the jogging, as is Umbulelo Consortium, led by Afrirent Holdings; and Giya Games, As outlined by Business enterprise Working day.

Vivien Natasen consulted for Giya Game titles on its bid. GroundUp claimed in 2022 that Natasen, throughตรวจ หวย ย้อน หลัง his company Neo Answers, contributed R2-million in direction of the posh mansion on the then-NLC chair Aflred Nevhutanda — when his corporation Neo Alternatives had a contract Using the NLC. Natasen told GroundUp At the moment that Neo Remedies was “appointed with the NLC’s supply chain procedures, as and when companies are needed”.