Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has appointed Ithuba Holdings (RF) (Pty) Ltd as the temporary national lottery and sports pool operator for 12 months.

This as the minister on Wednesday announced the successful conclusion and appointment of Sizekhaya Holdings (RF) (Pty) Ltd (‘Sizekhaya’) as the fourth national lottery and sports pools operator. However, Sizekhaya’s appointment takes effect on June 1, 2026.

“Sizekhaya’s appointment takes effect on June 1, 2026, and requires that there be transition from the third national lottery and sports pools operations to the fourth national lottery and sports pool licence operations.

“On advice of the National Lotteries Commission, I also authorised that a temporary licensee must be appointed in terms of section 13B of the Lotteries Act, 1997.

“I am pleased to report that I have concluded, on advice of the commission, successful negotiations with Ithuba Holdings (RF) (Pty) Ltd and have signed a temporary licence agreement for them to operate the National Lottery and Sports Pool for a period of 12 months with effect June 1, 2025,” said the minister in a statement on Saturday.

The temporary licence will ensure the continuation of the lottery operations in the period the transition is required from the third to the fourth licence operations.

In addition, the minister said he takes issue with the judgment of the High Court of May 21, which found that the Temporary Licence Request for Proposal (RFP) was not valid and has appealed this judgment.

“However, in its judgment of May 21, the court accepted that it is in the public interest that the National Lottery should continue to operate to raise revenues to fund worthy causes, notwithstanding that the court was not satisfied with the RFP process. Additionally, another court affirmed my power to appoint a temporary licensee in its judgment of May 30,” said Tau.

It is in the context of both the May 21 and 30 judgments that the minister received and accepted the advice from the commission that he appoint a temporary licence operator on an urgent basis.

“I am pleased that the National Lottery operations will not be interrupted during transition from the third to [the] fourth licence operations and that worthy causes will continue to receive support,” said the minister. – SAnews.gov.za

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