Dear Editor
The DA will launch a PAIA application to obtain the names of members of the lottery licence bid evaluation committee, bid adjudication committee and quality assurance committee.
Only once these names become public can their connections to the contesting bidders be assessed.
Minister Tau has refused to reveal these names to Parliament’s portfolio committee, instead hiding behind his offer to reveal them only during the Ithuba Lottery hearing in the Gauteng High Court where it is contesting the Minister’s decision to award the 4th Lotto licence to Sizekhaya Holdings.
A date for this court hearing has not been set and we cannot wait indefinitely to have transparency on who these people are.
In addition to the PAIA application, The DA has written to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition to demand Minister Parks Tau’s appearance before Parliament to report back on his commitment to initiate an investigation into ties between Bellamont Gaming, Sizekhaya Holdings and the Deputy President’s family.
In Minister Tau’s December 23rd statement explaining his last-minute postponement of announcing the winning bidder for the 4th Lotto licence, he said: “I must ensure that no political party or political office-bearer has any direct financial interest in the applicant or a shareholder of the applicant.”
However, the terms of reference in the request for proposals for the 4th Lotto licence refer to direct and indirect conflicts of interest debarring applicants from being considered.
Even after announcing the winning bidder in May, Minister Tau was taken by surprise when the Deputy President’s indirect connection to Sizekhaya Holdings was revealed by an investigative report.
The Minister, despite calls for transparency and action, appears to be dragging his feet. The licence is worth at least R60bn in revenue over its 8-year period, making it one of the most lucrative public contracts. An opaque internal investigation, which excludes the public, is simply not good enough.
Given the apparent conflict of interest of the Deputy President’s sister-in-law holding a stake in the licensee, it is imperative that the Minister act immediately.
We cannot risk having yet another cliff-edge, where the operations of the Lotto are placed in jeopardy by the Minister and the Department’s inaction.
The DA will not rest until the Minister has accounted to Parliament, and by extension the people, for his secrecy and apparent inaction on the matter. If the Minister fails to hold those accountable, then Parliament will.
Regards
Toby Chance MP
DA Spokesperson on Trade, Industry and Competition