Announcement of new lottery licence operator postponed - once again

Parks Tau, the trade and marketplace minister, has postponed naming a profitable bidder to run South Africa’s lottery if the tenure of latest operator, Ithuba, finishes in Could next yr.

Ithuba’s licence was owing to have expired in Could 2023 but was prolonged for two yrs by Tau’s predecessor Ebrahim Patel following a ask for from the then recently-appointed board with the Countrywide Lotteries Fee (NLC).

The Board, which was managing the corruption that had overwhelmed the NLC, also advised Patel of representations by Ithuba that it were severely impacted from the Covid pandemic. This included a ban within the sale of lottery tickets at the peak on the pandemic.

In terms of the extension, Ithuba experienced to generate contributions to your NLC for distribution to great results in at a better level than supplied for within their Original licence.

New licence operators are specified six months to setup infrastructure, including ticket devices countrywide, to take above from the preceding operator before the incumbent’s licence ends. This most current postponement means that there will not be enough time for just a sleek changeover and It can be not likely that Tau will lengthen Ithuba’s licence again.

The whole process of appointing a fresh licence operator has also been stricken by allegations of conflict of desire as well as other issues.

GroundUp has figured out that the NLC has contingency options in place to continue funding very good leads to for as many as a year If your lottery along with the sale of lottery tickets are suspended.

The contingency also covers funding inside the celebration of litigation by losing bidders whenever a new operator is at last announced, which could also derail the smooth managing of your lottery.

In the event that ticket gross sales 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 strategy informed GroundUp.

In his weekend assertion saying the postponement, Tau claimed: “Regretably, I am not able to generate a ultimate choice at this time. Any these types of decision presently would in all very good conscience mean which i haven't used my head with due thought of all of the applicable variables.”

“I've identified matters that have to have further evaluation. It would be inappropriate to reveal these problems now and their disclosure could pretty well prejudice the proper adjudication in the awarding in the licence.”

Tau stated he was awaiting advice on The easiest way to ensure the continuation of the lottery during the interim along with the “advancement of the programme to finalise this process”.

This, he stated, should be performed following consultation While using the Nationwide Treasury.”

Tau also hinted for the political make-up of your consortiums bidding for the licence as Yet another attainable cause for the postponement.

He claimed: “I have to also be sure that the house owners and professionals from the prosperous applicants are, since the Act states, ‘suit and correct folks’. Also, I must ensure that no political occasion or political Place of work-bearer has any immediate monetary curiosity during the applicant or even a shareholder of your applicant.”

Enterprise Working day described previously that the majority of of the companies shortlisted to the tender are politically exposed.

The Gold Rush consortium is led by higher-profile businessperson Sandile Zungu, who challenged for your ANC KwaZulu-Natal chair place in 2022 just before dropping out right after he failed to garner sufficient assistance, the paper claimed.

A further politically linked bidder is HCI, that is vast majority-owned via the South African Garments and Textile Employees’ Union, an affiliate of Cosatu, that is in alliance with the ANC. CEO Johnny Copelyn donated to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s CR17 campaign with the ANC presidency.

One more shortlisted bidder, according to Small business Day, is Thebe Financial investment Company, which was founded by ANC leaders in 1992. Thebe is half-owned by Batho Batho Have confidence in. The have faith in has donated R60-million into the ANC because 2021, In line with declarations designed to the electoral Fee.

Ithuba, the holder on the licence, is likewise inside the running, as is Umbulelo Consortium, led by Afrirent Holdings; and Giya Online games, In accordance with Company Working day.

Vivien Natasen consulted for Giya Game titles on its bid. GroundUp noted in 2022 that Natasen, throughหวย รัฐบาล his business Neo Methods, contributed R2-million toward the luxury mansion on the then-NLC chair Aflred Nevhutanda — while his corporation Neo Solutions had a agreement with the NLC. Natasen advised GroundUp At the moment that Neo Methods was “appointed through the NLC’s supply chain processes, as and when providers are essential”.

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