Latest news with #NLC
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Government plans national lottery: A shift toward state control amid concerns of corruption
Since its inception, a private company has been responsible for operating the lottery and selling tickets. That is set to change in 2034. The government plans to introduce a state-run national lottery instead of using a private operator, as has been the case since the Lotto was launched 25 years ago. Details of the intention to effectively nationalise the lottery were revealed in a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the latest operator licence, which has been awarded to the Sizekhaya Consortium. If a state lottery were to be implemented, it would only happen in 2034, when Sizekhaya's eight-year licence, which commences on 1 June 2026, expires. The concept of a state-run lottery was first introduced in a 2013 amendment to the Lotteries Act but was never implemented. National Lotteries Commission commissioner Jodi Scholtz told GroundUp that the provision for a state-run national lottery in the amendment 'was in part a response to the disruption experienced in 2007, when the country found itself without an active lottery operator for several months' due to litigation. 'This legislative provision was intended to ensure continuity of the lottery and protect public interest and revenue streams designated for good causes, should similar challenges arise in the future,' she said. The issue of a state-run lottery was hotly debated by the trade and industry portfolio committee during the previous, sixth Parliament. There were disagreements among MPs about the wisdom of nationalising the lottery, with some arguing that in light of the corruption at state entities this could lead to further misappropriation of funds. Those who were for nationalisation said it would reduce profiteering by the licence holder. One of the champions for nationalisation was former National Lotteries Commission (NLC) board member Dr Muthuhadini Madzivhandila, who argued for a state-run lottery when he unsuccessfully applied for the post of NLC chairperson. Madzivhandi, who subsequently died, corruptly benefited from lottery grants. Since the amendment, several policy and legal review processes had been conducted 'to explore the practical implementation of this provision,' said Scholtz. Yamkela Fanisi, the spokesperson of trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau, failed to respond to questions about the prospect of a state-run lottery and the reasons for the possible change. Transition to state lottery In terms of the Request For Proposals, bidders for the fourth lottery licence were 'required to commit to positioning the state to transition from privately operated National Lottery and National Sports Pool operations to a state-owned and operated National Lottery'. Applicants were informed that they had to 'demonstrate their ability to capacitate the state to prepare for and ultimately become the operator of the National Lottery and the National Sports Pool at the expiry of the Licence Period'. They were also required to provide a plan for how they would 'support the state in developing the necessary infrastructure, skills, and capacity to operate the National Lottery and Sports Pool' — a key part of the Request For Proposals deals with the transfer of rights to technology to operate the lottery. Responding to questions, Sizekhaya sent an unsigned written reply: 'Genlot [its Chinese tech partner] has assigned intellectual property rights for its lottery software to its 51% locally owned subsidiary, Genlot SA.' In terms of its agreement, Genlot SA is authorised to transfer this intellectual property (IP) to 'the South African state if it decides to operate the lottery in the future', Sizekhaya responded, declining to disclose details of the terms and conditions of such a rights transfer. Opening the door to corruption and waste The prospect of a state-run lottery opening the door to corruption and inefficiencies in light of what happened at many parastatals and government entities, where billions of rand were lost, was raised by some critics. The DA's Mat Cuthbert, who played a key role in Parliament in helping expose the endemic corruption that overwhelmed the National Lotteries Commission under its previous leadership, said: 'At the time, the National Lotteries Commission only had access to approximately 34% of all revenue generated by the National Lottery, housed under the NLDTF (National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.) One can only imagine how much more public funding would have been stolen had they had access to the approximately R7-billion generated in ticket sales revenue per annum.' Professor Alex van den Heever of the Wits School of Governance was also sceptical of a state-run lottery. The wide discretion granted to the minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to appoint the board, commissioner and distributing agencies 'has been a recipe for corruption as a single person appoints all the strategic decision-makers', he said. The move to a proposed 'state-led approach failed to address the corporate governance flaws of the original configuration', Van den Heever said. 'Ministerial discretion, the likely driver of structural corruption to date, is retained at the same levels as before. There is therefore a high likelihood of ministerial overreach, exacerbated by a general absence of independent supervision, institutional safeguards, added to the uncertain capabilities of state structures. 'It is my expectation that this approach is designed to facilitate state capture and corruption of various forms — improper appointments, corruption in procurement and the selection of distributing agencies. The new provisions specify that certain accountability structures need to be implemented, which are inadequate, with their design and implementation vulnerable to the wide discretion of the minister. This discretion enables the minister to circumvent any implemented formal structures. 'When power is concentrated, circumvention is relatively straightforward. In my assessment, the same levels of corruption as before are likely to persist into the future. Nothing is cured by this change.' DM
News24
7 hours ago
- Business
- News24
Alarm raised over plans for state-run lottery
Government plans to nationalise the South African lottery when the current private operator's licence expires in 2034. The new Sizekhaya Consortium must help the state develop skills and infrastructure to run the lottery itself from 2034. Critics warn that a state-run lottery could lead to more corruption, given the billions lost at parastatals and government entities. The government plans to introduce a state-run national lottery instead of using a private operator, as has been the case since the Lotto was launched 25 years ago. Details of the intention to effectively nationalise the lottery were revealed in a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the latest operator licence, which has been awarded to the Sizekhaya Consortium. If a state lottery were to be implemented, it would only happen in 2034, when Sizekhaya's eight-year licence, which commences 1 June 2026, expires. The concept of a state-run lottery was first introduced in a 2013 amendment to the Lotteries Act but was never implemented. National Lotteries Commission (NLC) commissioner Jodi Scholtz told GroundUp that the provision for a state-run national lottery in the amendment 'was in part a response to the disruption experienced in 2007, when the country found itself without an active lottery operator for several months' due to litigation. 'This legislative provision was intended to ensure continuity of the lottery and protect public interest and revenue streams designated for good causes, should similar challenges arise in the future,' she said. The issue of a state-run lottery was hotly debated by the trade and industry portfolio committee during the previous, sixth Parliament. There were disagreements among MPs about the wisdom of nationalising the lottery, with some arguing that in light of the corruption at state entities that this could lead to further misappropriation of funds. Those who were for nationalisation said it would reduce profiteering by the licence holder. One of the champions for nationalisation was former National Lotteries Commission (NLC) board member Dr Muthuhadini Madzivhandila, who argued for a state-run lottery when he unsuccessfully applied for the post of NLC chairperson. Madzivhandi, who subsequently died, corruptly benefited from lottery grants. Since the amendment, several policy and legal review processes have been conducted 'to explore the practical implementation of this provision,' said Scholtz. Yamkela Fanisi, spokesperson for trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau, failed to respond to questions about the prospect of a state-run lottery and the reasons for the possible change. Transition to state lottery In terms of the RFP, bidders for the fourth lottery licence were 'required to commit to positioning the state to transition from privately operated National Lottery and National Sports Pool operations to a state-owned and operated National Lottery'. Applicants were informed that they had to 'demonstrate their ability to capacitate the state to prepare for and ultimately become the operator of the National Lottery and the National Sports Pool at the expiry of the Licence Period'. They were also required to provide a plan for how they would 'support the state in developing the necessary infrastructure, skills, and capacity to operate the National Lottery and Sports Pool'. A key part of the RFP deals with the transfer of rights to technology to operate the lottery. Responding to questions, Sizekhaya sent an unsigned written reply: 'Genlot [its Chinese tech partner] has assigned intellectual property rights for its lottery software to its 51% locally owned subsidiary, Genlot SA.' In terms of its agreement, Genlot SA is authorised to transfer this intellectual property (IP) to 'the South African state if it decides to operate the lottery in the future', Sizekhaya responded, declining to disclose details of the terms and conditions of such a rights transfer. Opening the door to corruption and waste The prospect of a state-run lottery opening the door to corruption and inefficiencies in light of what had happened at many parastatals and government entities, where billions of rands have been lost, was raised by some critics. The DA's Mat Cuthbert. who played a key role in Parliament in helping expose the endemic corruption that overwhelmed the NLC under its previous leadership, said, 'At the time, the NLC only had access to approximately 34% of all revenue generated by the National Lottery, housed under the NLDTF (National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.) One can only imagine how much more public funding would have been stolen had they had access to the approximately R7 billion generated in ticket sales revenue per annum.' Professor Alex van den Heever of the Wits School of Governance was also sceptical of a state-run lottery. The wide discretion granted to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to appoint the board, commissioner and distributing agencies 'has been a recipe for corruption as a single person appoints all the strategic decision makers', he said. The move to a proposed 'state-led approach failed to address the corporate governance flaws of the original configuration,' Van den Heever said. 'Ministerial discretion, the likely driver of structural corruption to date, is retained at the same levels as before. There is therefore a high likelihood of ministerial overreach, exacerbated by a general absence of independent supervision, institutional safeguards, added to the uncertain capabilities of state structures. 'It is my expectation that this approach is designed to facilitate state capture and corruption of various forms - improper appointments, corruption in procurement and the selection of distributing agencies. The new provisions specify that certain accountability structures need to be implemented, which are inadequate, with their design and implementation vulnerable to the wide discretion of the minister. This discretion enables the minister to circumvent any implemented formal structures. 'When power is concentrated, circumvention is relatively straightforward. In my assessment, the same levels of corruption as before are likely to persist into the future. Nothing is cured by this change.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Pension freeze for former NLC official amid serious fraud allegations
The pension fund of former National Lotteries Commission senior manager Sanele Dlamini was frozen. Image: File Former National Lotteries Commission (NLC) official, Sanele Dlamini, has been interdicted from cashing in on his pension, pending the outcome of the Special Investigating Unit's (SIU) investigation into allegations that he improperly authorised the payment of R3 million towards a project which never materialised. The SIU turned to the Special Tribunal to freeze Dlamini's retirement fund, which is due to be paid to him. Dlamini is a former senior manager of the grant operations of the NLC. The SIU is litigating on behalf of the commission to recover losses that it suffered as a result of irregular and unlawful practices. The SIU said it believes that Dlamini may be 'a man of straw', and if its investigations reveal any wrongdoing on his part, they will at least be able to recover the NLC money from his pension fund. The NLC had awarded the Motheo Sports Foundation a grant of R9 million for the construction of a sports complex. The first payment made was nearly R3.6 million. The SIU investigation revealed that this amount was not used for the funded project but was instead shared among several people and/or entities as an undue gratification. It was alleged that Dlamini authorised the payment of the money based on falsified progress reports, despite no work being done on the funded project. Investigations revealed that the land was used as a dumping site. A disciplinary inquiry subsequently found Dlamini guilty of gross negligence and misconduct, and he was dismissed. The SIU now seeks to preserve Dlamini's pension fund at Liberty Life Insurance, pending the outcome of a review application to recover the funds. Dlamini, in opposing the application, said it is clear that the sports foundation received the funds and not him. He was not part of any fraud or scheme to siphon off money from the NLC. He was not present when the project was approved. At that stage, he was the provincial manager for the KwaZulu-Natal office of the NLC. He asserted that he unfairly attracted blame for this entire saga for simply approving a payment of R3 million to the Motheo Foundation. He argued that the money must be recovered from the principal debtors, being the persons and entities who received the NLC money. Therefore, he should not be held liable. Dlamini said he based his approval of the progress report, the financial report, and visuals showing the site and work in progress. He stated that he was the victim of the fraud, as also the NLC.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia State University students excel at FBLA National Leadership Conference
Virginia State University students won top prizes at Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.'s National Leadership Conference. The event May 31-June 2 in Dallas drew over 1,000 college students, educators and volunteers. At the NLC, the VSU Chapter of FBLA showcased exceptional talent. The chapter, according to a news release, was consistently visible on the leaderboard and maintained a high level of networking and participation throughout the conference. VSU's Sakara Calhoun-Bey was the top-performing attendee. She exhibited her strong networking ability, and received the top position on the leaderboard for the FBLA application. Other top performers were Jenayah Loveless, Amiyah Ponton, King Maxwell, Elijah Adams, Renee Ogoh, Jasmine Fallen and Tania Outland. The VSU students represent what it means to be committed to the core values of FBLA: To collaborate, to compete and to lead. The NLC provides education, competition and networking opportunities centered on business. Through determination, hard work and efficient teamwork, VSU students placed in the top 10 of their competitive events. Remarkable achievement VSU excels at Future Business Leaders of America competition. What's next for students? Nayima Green and Nylan Taylor — 1st place in Management Case Elijah Adams, Nylan Taylor and Camron Cooper — 1st place in Marketing Case Abigail Rancy — 3rd place in Parliamentary Procedure Shane Roach, King Maxwell and Elijah Adams — 5th in Emerging Business Issues Makayla Robinson and Sakara Calhoun-Bey — 6th place in Hospitality Management Case Recipients dual-enrolled AdvanSix presents $2,000 STEM Scholarships: Read where students see themselves in 20 years More than 890 students from nearly 150 schools in 27 U.S. states and territories competed in 38 business-related events for cash prizes totaling over $45,000. Students also had the opportunity to engage in 60 learning workshops and meet with representatives from more than 25 colleges, universities and employers. Additionally, student members heard from Astad Dhunjisha, vice president of human resources and talent acquisition at AT&T, who shared his insights on change and innovation in the business world as well as what students can do now to prepare for a rapidly shifting job market. In response to the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business's victory involving over 1,000 student participants from nearly 150 institutions, Dr. Emmanuel Omojokun, professor of Computer Information Systems and dean of the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business, shared a reflection on the significance of the achievement and what it means for VSU. 'To win a national competition against nearly 150 schools that, between them, fielded over 1,000 student contestants is not just an affirmation of the caliber of undergraduates at the Reginald F. Lewis College of Business but also proof in the pudding that at Virginia State University, Greater Happens Here. If anyone needed any additional quantifiable evidence of what is being achieved at this Historically Black College and University, they need not look any further,' Omojokun said. 'This year's National Leadership Conference showcased the incredible talent and dedication of our student members,' Jennifer Woods, FBLA President and CEO, said. 'From analytical thinking to dynamic communication, they demonstrated the skills that will shape tomorrow's workforce. These college students leave Dallas not only with well-earned recognition but also with new connections, confidence and a clearer path toward their future careers.' FBLA, a nonprofit education association, has over 200,000 middle school, high school and college members worldwide. Dr. Aurelia Donald, Computer Information Systems Professor and FBLA Chapter Advisor, stated, "VSU couldn't be prouder of bringing home the big win!" 'Reach the stars' Petersburg: Young entrepreneur spreads positive vibes via her first business Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@ follow @KHiggins_PI on X and@socialbutterflykristi on Instagram. Your support is vital to local journalism. Please . This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: VSU students celebrate, excel at FBLA National Leadership Conference
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Science
- South Wales Argus
What we can see in the sky this coming week
Noctilucent clouds, (NLCs), make for an interesting spectacle after sunset, observable with the naked eye and quite eerie in appearance. Around two hours after the Sun has set and looking above the northwest horizon, watch for wispy threads of cloud with a distinct blue and silver tinge to them. Taken from the Latin for 'night-shining', NLCs are formed by sunlight reflecting off high-altitude ice crystals that are positioned right on the edge of space. The time period after sunset is crucial if we are to catch NLCs, as around 90 minutes to two hours after the Sun has dipped below the horizon is when the necessary angle occurs for sunlight to catch the crystals and illuminate that part of the sky with this enchanting effect. The beautiful and captivating sight sees the highest clouds in our atmosphere, about 50 miles above the Earth's surface, seem to glow and shimmer with this mesmerizing blue or silvery guise. In the summertime the mesosphere, (the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere where meteorites burn up), becomes cold enough to allow ice to form on suspended dust particles that are floating around in the clouds. These particles may originate from meteorites falling from space, but equally so from other sources, possible volcanic, with the recent Mount Etna eruption billowing tons of debris into the atmosphere. In fact, the first NLCs observations were recorded in 1885, two years after the eruption of Krakatoa, which may or may not have something to do with their appearance. Eruptions aside, rockets that have blasted off from Earth leave particle emissions from their exhaust systems, all contributing to the array of debris circulating in our atmosphere. NLC's have been given a different name when seen from space looking back on Earth; polar mesospheric clouds, or (PMCs). However, the Earth is not the only place NLC's have been witnessed. Launched in June 2003, Mars Express was not only the first European mission to Mars, but the first planetary mission operated entirely by Europe. There were reports of NLC's made three years into the Mars Express mission in 2006, with NASA's Curiosity Mars rover confirming the presence of NLC's in 2019. Readers may well recall all the media hype over Asteroid 2024 YR4, which earlier this year was once considered the highest impact risk to Earth ever recorded. Earlier this week, NASA announced that previously collected data on the asteroid that has been reanalysed now reveals that the 174 to 220 feet-long chunk of rock is more likely to hit the Moon in 2032. During the week ahead, watch for Mars in the evening sky as it moves its way slowly night by night, left to right, above the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, situated above the western horizon. The International Space Station continues its early summer break and cannot be seen across our region at present. Send your astrophotography pictures to: thenightsky@
