Process to Appoint New Lottery Chair Underway

A new chair is being sought for the National Lotteries Commission after the current chair, Professor Barney Pityana, indicated that he would be retiring.

Candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant position of National Lotteries Commission (NLC) board chairperson have been whittled down from 22 to six by the parliamentary portfolio committee handling the process.

The vacancy arose after the current chair, Professor Barney Pityana, 80, advised the minister who has oversight of the lottery of his intention to quit at the end of this year.

Pityana, who still has two years of his contract left, told Parliament recently that he has agreed to remain in office until the appointment of a new chairperson.

The shortlisted candidates are:

• Nomazotsho Yvonne Memani, a practicing advocate with a career that has included both public and private sector work, “with a strong focus on high-stakes litigation”.
• Lufuno Toyko Nevondwe, an advocate and current chairperson of the independent trust responsible for safeguarding lottery funds on behalf of its beneficiaries. He is also currently a board member of the Film and Publication Board and of the South African National Space Agency.
• Judy Hermans, a former ANC MP and whip of the party’s trade, industry and competition portfolio committee study group. (A study group formulates party policy and ensures that it is implemented.) During that time, the ANC members of the portfolio committee defended the NLC in the face of growing evidence of corruption involving lottery funds. She was later appointed chair of the portfolio committee and, during the latter part of her tenure, the ANC stopped protecting the NLC, apparently after instructions from “higher up” in the party.
• King Tembinkosi Bonakele, a current member of the NLC’s board. He is a lawyer and served as Commissioner of the Competition Commission of South Africa for nine years of his total 18-year service. He is a qualified lawyer with an MBA.
• Wayne Manthe, a chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience working with organisations in the private and public sectors in South Africa. He has expertise in forensic, sustainable and internal auditing and risk management.
• Mpho Mosing, former chair of the audit and risk committee of the State Diamonds Trader (SDT), and former a member of the Gauteng Liquour Board commission of inquiry into fraud and governance controls.

The Trade, Industry and Competition Portfolio Committee must follow a prescribed process, which includes security clearance for shortlisted candidates, with tight deadlines to complete its work.

The committee will interview the six candidates on 11 and 12 November and then submit a report to Parliament, which will debate it on a date still to be announced.

The final short list will then be sent to the minister to choose a chairperson.

The public has an opportunity to submit comments on the shortlisted candidates up to 10 November. Written submissions should be sent to the Committee Secretary, Mr A Hermans, at [email protected].

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