Latest news with #iol
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
SA faces looming lottery blackout after Pretoria High Court dismisses Ithuba bid
iol South Africa at risk of lottery shutdown after court rejects Ithuba's plea Image: File South Africa may soon experience a temporary lottery blackout, following a significant ruling from the Pretoria High Court that dismissed the National Lotteries Commission's (NLC) urgent application to extend Ithuba Holdings' operating licence beyond its impending expiry on May 31. The court's decision raises serious uncertainty about the future of the national lottery, a vital service that supports numerous community initiatives across the country. On Thursday, IOL News reported that Ithuba, the current operator tasked with managing the national lottery, is now evaluating its legal options in response to the recent decision taken to award the next operating licence to Sizakhaya Holdings. Ithuba has voiced its concern that this decision undermines the considerable advancements it has made in creating a locally focused lottery ecosystem, one that prioritises small business growth, job creation, and maximising revenue for charitable causes. The company expressed particular discontent in a statement released earlier this week, indicating that Tau's decision goes against the principles of localisation and inclusive economic growth detailed in its Request for Proposal. As a fully South African-owned and Black-empowered entity, Ithuba has heavily invested in the development of an African Central Lottery System that is both owned and designed by South Africans to serve the continent. 'Ithuba Holdings has the necessary infrastructure, financial resources and distribution systems to deliver a seamless, secure and uninterrupted National Lottery,' stated Michelle van Trotsenburg, Ithuba's head of marketing and corporate affairs. She added, 'Our game portfolio is locally developed, our operational model prioritises economic inclusion, and our reach extends across urban and rural communities, ensuring accessibility for all South Africans from day one.' 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 ✕ Ad loading Judge Omphemetse Mooki presided over the case, pointing out the deficiencies in the NLC's claims. Mooki argued that the commission's assertion indicating that there would be no lottery operator for a full year following Ithuba's exit was exaggerated, stating, 'It would be a surprise to the court that the minister is unable to appoint an operator, on a temporary basis, for a whole year.' He also emphasised that the minister holds broader discretion in selecting a temporary operator compared to a permanent one, asserting, 'I do not accept that the sky will fall after June 2025 should Ithuba Holdings refuse to sign an agreement to conduct lottery operations as determined in the order of May 21, 2025.' Mooki concluded that the NLC had failed to substantiate its case for the relief sought. Ultimately, while Mooki acknowledged the urgency of the application, he ruled against it, ordering both the National Lotteries Commission and Ithuba to shoulder the legal costs, including those associated with three counsel.
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
PICS: Gucci slippers, Le Creuset pots and Louis Vuitton dupes discovered in Durban port bust
iol Police in KZN seized counterfiet Le Creuset pots and Gucci slippers at a depot in Edwin Swales on Tuesday afternoon. Police in KwaZulu-Natal have seized counterfeit goods with a street value of R400 million. The raid was made on Tuesday afternoon at a freight depot in Edwin Swales, south of Durban. KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshuinda said SAPS members were conducting a routine cargo profiling when they found two containers that contained counterfeit designer clothes, jewellery, and kitchenware. "Both containers were fraudulently declared to be carrying furniture.
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
IN PICS: Gucci slippers, Le Creuset pots and Louis Vuitton dupes discovered in Durban port bust
iol Police in KZN seized counterfiet Le Creuset pots and Gucci slippers at a depot in Edwin Swales on Tuesday afternoon. Police in KwaZulu-Natal have seized counterfeit goods with a street value of R400 million. The raid was made on Tuesday afternoon at a freight depot in Edwin Swales, south of Durban. KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshuinda said SAPS members were conducting a routine cargo profiling when they found two containers that contained counterfeit designer clothes, jewellery, and kitchenware. "Both containers were fraudulently declared to be carrying furniture.
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
'I watched each of the winning numbers appear': Western Cape pensioner watched live on TV as she won R13 million Lotto jackpot
iol A Western Cape pensioner has bagged R13million in the Lotto Plus 1 jackpot and is preparing for a relaxed retirement. A Western Cape pensioner recalled how she watched the Lotto draw live on television and realised she had won. The winner won R13 million in the Lotto Plus jackpot draw from the April 23, 2025 draw. The winning ticket, purchased in-store in Grassy Park, Western Cape, was bought for R40 using the manual selection method, Ituba said in a statement. The pensioner recounted the moment she discovered her win while watching the draw on television. 'I watched each of the winning numbers appear, and I could hardly believe what I was seeing,' she shared. 'I was holding a ticket that matched every number - a ticket worth over R13 million. "I've never won anything close to this in my life; it still feels unreal'. The winner had diligently written her details on the back of her ticket and stored it safely, holding onto the hope that this might be her lucky draw. Upon confirming her win, she couldn't wait to share the news with her son and immediately gave him a call. As a passionate gardener, the winner expressed her delight, saying, "Now I'll have more time to focus on the things I truly enjoy during my retirement years." With her newfound fortune, she plans to invest a large portion of the winnings to ensure her comfort during her retirement. She also shared that she plans on spreading the joy by donating some of her winnings to charity. Charmaine Mabuza, CEO of ITHUBA, extended warm congratulations to the winner, stating, "We're thrilled that our winner gets to enjoy her golden years with much more comfort. This win is a testament to the fact that it's never too late for a life-changing moment." IOL News
