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The DA is deeply concerned by the revelation by Professor Barney Pityana that the investigation into the award of the lottery licence to Sizekhaya is being held up by investigators not being able to secure meetings with relevant parties.

We have written to Prof Pityana, the outgoing Chair of the National Lotteries Commission, to demand that the NLC turns over every stone in its investigation and ensures all relevant information is made available. The risk of this outcome was precisely why we called on Minister Tau to initiate a separate, independent investigation into the awarding of the licence in June.

The completion of the investigation is urgent: should Sizekhaya’s award be revoked due to its links to the Deputy President’s family, the Minister will be left with little time to ensure a smooth transition to a new operator. This could jeopardise the operations of the National Lottery, and deprive many charities of much-needed funds.

We have also called on the outgoing Chair to ensure the reimbursement of former NLC employees and others who were targeted by litigation for blowing the whistle on corruption and maladministration under former Board Chair Alfred Nevhutanda. We urged the Chair and the NLC Commissioner to attend to this two months ago, but, despite their commitment to this effect, we are yet to see any compensation for whistleblowers.

These are people who risked their lives and livelihoods to ensure good governance and protect public money from theft. They are heroes, but they have been treated like criminals. The NLC must commit, with a firm timeline, to settling the compensation of all of these brave South Africans.

The DA wishes to commend Professor Pityana for his efforts to stabilise the NLC after a very dark period. We urge him to end his tenure on a high.

Issued by Toby Chance MP - DA Spokesperson on Trade, Industry and Competition