Latest news with #Thambo
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
EFF raises concerns over Gold Rush Consortium's mooted National Lottery takeover
IOL The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) expresses grave concerns over the selection of the Gold Rush Consortium as the preferred bidder for South Africa's National Lottery, citing political interference and conflicts of interest that threaten the integrity of the process. Image: File The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has expressed deep concerns over reports that the Gold Rush Consortium has been selected as the preferred bidder to operate the National Lottery for the next eight years, under a contract valued at R180 billion. The consortium is led by KwaZulu-Natal businessmen Moses Tembe and Sandile Zungu. This lottery bidding process has been marred by allegations of political interference, conflicts of interest, and a flagrant disregard for principles of ethical governance. Durban businessman Moses Tembe. Picture: Independent Newspapers Archives Image: Independent Newspapers Archives Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This is according to Sinawo Thambo, the EFF's National Spokesperson. Serious questions have arisen over the integrity of the evaluation process, particularly due to the involvement of individuals with direct financial and social ties to the Gold Rush Consortium, Thambo said. Thambo specifically noted that Thiran Marimuthu, a member of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) bid evaluation committee, has close professional and personal connections to Gold Rush. Another committee member, Anne-Marie Pooley, is listed as the sole director of Route 515 Pub and Grill in Pretoria, a venue that hosts Gold Rush gaming machines. These relationships undermine the impartiality of the bidding process and create the risk of collusion and procedural manipulation, he added. "The EFF strongly condemns Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau's decision to move forward with negotiations behind closed doors. His refusal to provide clear answers to direct questions, while holding private consultations with the NLC, casts serious doubt on the transparency and legality of the process," Thambo said in a statement. Businessman Sandile Zungu Image: Independent Media Archives The EFF argued that the promotion of the Gold Rush Consortium, despite the evident conflicts of interest reflects a broader pattern of patronage and elite capture that has come to define the ANC-led government. Thambo said that such politically driven appointments threaten the effective functioning of the National Lottery. With the current licence held by Ithuba set to expire in May 2025, the incoming operator must begin work at least six months in advance to establish critical infrastructure. This includes implementing secure and sophisticated technological systems, securing retail and digital platforms, and ensuring full compliance with regulatory standards. Any delays in this transition period will disrupt the Lottery's essential contributions to social development, such as funding charitable organisations, supporting youth empowerment, bolstering educational efforts, and sustaining vital community upliftment projects. Thambo argued that by favouring politically connected individuals over a fair and transparent process, this decision undermines the developmental mission of the National Lottery and endangers the well-being of countless South Africans who rely on its resources. The EFF has demanded that Minister Tau be held accountable before Parliament for the tainted manner in which this licence is being awarded. "We will not remain silent while a critical public institution is captured through cronyism, conflict of interest, and political favouritism. The National Lottery must serve the people, not the interests of the politically connected," Thambo said. IOL NEWS
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
EFF reshuffles leadership to boost organisational strength ahead of 2026 elections
The EFF reshuffles provincial leadership to sharpen internal capacity and prepare for intensified electoral engagement ahead of 2026, strengthening its presence in key provinces across South Africa. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have announced a series of significant leadership appointments across several provinces, aimed at reinforcing discipline, sharpening leadership capacity, and deepening grassroots organisational presence. The party said the shake-up is intended to "refine the EFF's leadership machinery, deepen accountability," and ensure its structures are "well-coordinated, administratively sound, and financially efficient" in preparation for intensified electoral engagement. The changes, were effected in strict accordance with Section 14 of the EFF Constitution, following resolutions taken at the 2nd Central Command Team (CCT) Meeting of the 3rd National People's Assembly (NPA), held in Bela Bela earlier this month. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the appointments are part of 'decisive organisational interventions to reinforce, consolidate, and sharpen leadership capacity,' and a reflection of the party's continued commitment to building a mass-based, ideologically coherent movement grounded in the struggles of the working class and the poor. ''The EFF remains steady in its revolutionary mission: to build a mass-based, militant, and disciplined organisation that is firmly rooted in the struggles of the working class and the poor, and that will deliver true economic freedom in our lifetime,'' said Thambo.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Godongwana must resign, says EFF as Treasury scraps VAT hike
Finance Enoch Godongwana was forced to postpone his initial Budget Speech, which was meant to take place in February, with members of parliament taking issue with the proposed 2% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase. The Economic Freedom Fighters have called for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to fall on his sword and resign after Treasury announced it was scrapping the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase. The announcement was made on Wednesday night after weeks of political jostling over the issue which has caused huge fractures in the Government of National Unity. In a statement, EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo described the ploy of a VAT hike as 'misguided, ill-conceived, and reckless'. 'The EFF calls for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Finance and the Director-General of the National Treasury. 'This entire budget fiasco should be a reflection for the Minister of Finance and his Director General that they are out of depth and pose a threat to the economic stability of the country and, by consequence, are a threat to the livelihoods of South Africans,' said Thambo. The EFF has called on Speaker Thoko Didiza to release all correspondence from the Minister of Finance and demands that she convenes a meeting of all leaders of political parties in Parliament. 'Effectively, the country does not have a budget, and the Finance Minister failed to table a lawful budget by the 31st of March 2025, as required by Section 27 of the Public Finance Management Act. 'We call for the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces to convene and adopt resolutions to withdraw the adopted 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals on the basis that they were adopted following an unprocedural meeting which approved the reports,' said Thambo. Meanwhile, the ANC, Bosa, Rise Mzansi, Good, the PAC and other GNU partners - except the DA and the FF+, who voted to approved the budget, are hosting a media conference reacting to the latest developments on the VAT hike. It is expected that the finance minister will table a revised budget. Regarding the VAT hike, the EFF said they would consider only a written out-of-court settlement proposed by Godongwana. 'However, we maintain that without a full withdrawal and reset of the budget process, whatever follows will remain illegal and unconstitutional,' said Thambo. IOL
