The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the resignation of Professor Barney Pityana as Chairperson of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), two years before the end of his term. This abrupt exit occurs after a highly contentious lottery license award process, as highlighted by the EFF, and widespread allegations of corruption within the lottery winnings awarding system.
As it stands, there is public backlash following the awarding of the lottery license to the Goldrush Consortium under the entity Sizekhaya Holdings, after the EFF pointed out red flags about irregularities in the adjudication process. Reports have linked key individuals associated with the winning bidder to politically connected ANC cronies Moses Tembe and Sandile Zungu, as well as associations with Deputy President Paul Mashatile through his sister-in-law. These connections cast doubt on whether the tender was awarded on merit or manipulated to benefit the politically powerful.
Therefore, Professor Pityana’s sudden resignation at this critical juncture, when litigation brought by various bidders is gaining traction, cannot be seen as coincidental. These court proceedings are expected to compel him to testify under oath, a process that would expose the inner workings of a flawed and compromised procurement process. Instead of facing this scrutiny, he has chosen to vacate his position prematurely, confirming our view that the pressure applied by the EFF, through both parliamentary oversight and legal intervention is working.
The EFF is also alarmed by the conduct of Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau, who has demonstrated blatant arrogance and evasiveness. Despite repeated attempts by the EFF and our legal representatives to obtain answers regarding the lottery license award process, the Minister has refused to respond or issued dismissive replies. This pattern of non-accountability reinforces our suspicion that the department is complicit in shielding those who benefitted from a captured process.
We will, therefore, intensify our fight in Parliament and other legal avenues to ensure that the National Lottery does not continue to be a conduit for corruption and elite enrichment. The lottery system belongs to the people of South Africa, and its proceeds must advance social upliftment, not line the pockets of the politically connected.
The EFF is known for its militant rhetoric and confrontational style in politics.
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