Minister Parks Tau faces pressure over lottery licence award
Minister Parks Tau.
Image: Supplied
Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau is facing mounting pressure after a losing bidder for the fourth lottery licence, Lekalinga (RF) Pty Ltd, applied to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, seeking to review and set aside the decision to award the licence to Sizekhaya Holdings.
The court application comes as the DA has called for Tau to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition to clarify how he selected Sizekhaya Holdings and how he struck a deal with Ithuba Holdings, the current operator of the National Lottery.
The DA has written to the Chairperson of the portfolio committee, Mzwandile Masina, demanding that Tau and the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) chairperson, Barney Pityana, appear before the committee to account for the opaque manner in which Sizekhaya Holdings was appointed as the new licence holder.
Lekalinga (RF) Pty Ltd, a Serbian-based company that teamed up with local partners, has filed a court application that seeks to force Tau to produce the record of his decision when awarding the licence to Sizekhaya Holdings.
The company, founded by Vladimir Vukovic, is questioning whether Sizekhaya could lawfully be awarded the licence, given its alleged non-compliance with some of the conditions bidders had to adhere to.
Vukovic said in his affidavit that his company had teamed up with local partners to bid for the licence but was not informed of the reasons for the decision.
"As a result, Lekalinga does not know the basis on which the licence was awarded to Sizekhaya or why the other bids were unsuccessful," he said.
Vukovic raised concerns regarding Sizekhaya's alleged links to the JSE-listed gaming group Goldrush and the potential for indirect financial interests held by prohibited persons.
"The record should reveal the extent to which the minister assessed whether any political party or political office-bearer holds a direct or indirect financial interest in Sizekhaya and ensured compliance with the applicable prohibitions," he said.
Vukovic also questioned Sizekhaya's ability to take over the lottery within the stipulated five-month timeframe.
"This timeline is significant. It points to the ability to mobilise resources, infrastructure, and operational capacity within that timeframe," he said.
Tau's spokesperson, Yamkela Fanisi, said Tau respected the decision made by Vukovic.
"The minister respects the decision by those who were not successful bidders... He believes the process was credible and followed due process. At a time when the portfolio committee calls us to account, we will do so," Fanisi said.
Meanwhile, Tau has applied for leave to appeal against a recent court ruling that set aside his decision to grant a 12-month temporary licence to Ithuba Holdings. The appeal, lodged with the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, effectively allows Ithuba to continue running the lottery until the appeal outcome is reached.
Ithuba has agreed to continue operating the National Lottery, ensuring that all games, draws, and prize payouts will proceed normally. The company has reassured the public that it will maintain their commitment to integrity, transparency, and the benefit of South Africans.
While Ithuba's continued operation provides short-term relief, the long-term future of the National Lottery remains uncertain.
Sizekhaya Holdings is set to take over the lottery in June 2026, but questions remain about the transparency of the licensing process and the impact of further legal challenges, and how Tau struck a deal with Ithuba to hold the fort while Sizekhaya is obtaining its licence.
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