The Lottery and its discontents

Here are articles on who plays the South African Lottery, how the Lottery money is distributed, and dodgy dealings by the National Lotteries Commission and its recipients.

SIU cracks down on lottery corruption, but NPA missing in action

Findings were presented to SCOPA this week

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News | 22 May 2025

Court rules against Minister Parks Tau on lottery licence

Minister’s decision to delay lottery announcement was unconstitutional

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Law | 21 May 2025

Special Tribunal freezes R25-million in assets from stolen lottery funds

Money meant for Olympics roadshow was diverted to NLC officials

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Law | 19 May 2025

Ithuba poised to run Lottery for next 12 months — despite legal concerns

And Goldrush-backed consortium picked for eight-year licence starting in 2026

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News | 16 May 2025

Lottery underspends R1-billion in grants

Auditor-General find lots of problems, as the institution battles to recover from over a decade of mismanagement and corruption

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Parliament | 14 May 2025

Lottery workers march in Pretoria

Workers demand higher wages and changes to the way the National Lotteries Commission is run

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News | 8 May 2025

Lottery licence: “All will be revealed in good time” says Minister

Parks Tau says he will announce successful bidder on 28 May

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Law | 23 April 2025

Minister must commit to a firm date for new lottery licence, says bidder

Wina Njalo wants Parks Tau to announce the successful bidder by 9 May

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Law | 11 April 2025

Ramaphosa stands firm on Lotteries probe

President files affidavit in bid by former Lotteries boss Alfred Nevhutanda to stop investigation

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Law | 8 April 2025

Lottery ticket sales likely to be suspended from 1 June

Minister Tau backtracks on temporary licence, will announce permanent operator at end of May

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News | 31 March 2025

R25-million and six years later, Soweto centre still needs millions to be completed

SIU investigates unfinished arts centre backed by music legends Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu

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News | 25 March 2025

Former lottery official fails in court bid to unfreeze his pension fund

Judge says former NLC chief risk officer Marubini Ramatsekisa didn’t explain how he could live at an expensive golf estate while claiming to be unemployed

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Law | 20 March 2025

Two more Lottery officials dismissed after appeals fail

Former acting chief operating officer and a Durban-based client liaison officer were summarily dismissed last year

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News | 14 March 2025

Former Lottery exec fights back over R4.7-million farm

SIU says the farm was bought with stolen Lottery money

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Law | 12 March 2025

Minister issues tender for 12-month temporary lottery licence

Critics say this favours Ithuba, the current operator

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News | 6 March 2025

Lottery secretary resigns after pocketing R6-million while on suspension

Nompumelelo Nene, suspended two years ago, faced 145 disciplinary charges

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News | 4 March 2025