The Lottery and its discontents

Here are articles on who plays the South African Lottery, how the Lottery money is distributed, and dodgy dealings by the National Lotteries Commission and its recipients.

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GroundUp’s Raymond Joseph wins journalist of the year award for exposing Lottery corruption

For years he has been tenaciously reporting on shenanigans at the National Lotteries Commission

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News | 25 November 2022

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Army of fake companies used to defraud the Lottery

Documents and computers seized in raid on Lottery’s East London office as dodgy scheme implicating a former board member is uncovered

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News | 17 November 2022

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Terry Pheto’s house may go up for auction to recover Lottery funds

Numerous properties belonging to Lotteries Commission executives, their relatives and cronies frozen by court order

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News | 7 November 2022

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Why GroundUp is taking the Legal Practice Council to court

Matter is scheduled to be heard on Monday, 7 November Thursday 10 November in Johannesburg

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GroundView | 2 November 2022

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Millions to be spent to complete abandoned Lottery-funded projects

Engineers to be paid directly to finish multi-million rand infrastructure projects

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News | 31 October 2022

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Lottery cracks down on sky-high spending on lawyers

Minister demands details of legal costs

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News | 20 October 2022

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Former Lottery boss personally recommended R4.8-million grant for his wife’s company

Grant paid within eight days of application

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News | 17 October 2022

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No Lottery funds for animal welfare next year

A “tough decision” says National Lotteries Commission

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News | 5 October 2022

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SIU investigating dodgy Lottery grants worth over R1.4-billion

“Courageous individuals, ranging from whistle-blowers to journalists and investigators, were essential to uncovering wrong-doing,” says Minister Ebrahim Patel

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News | 28 September 2022

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Former Lottery executive’s pension frozen as corruption probe hots up

Special Tribunal takes action against Phillemon Letwaba

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News | 21 September 2022

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Auditor-General issues damning report on Lottery finances

R23-million in irregular expenditure; R36-million in accounting errors

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News | 14 September 2022

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Leaked report sheds more light on the rot at Lottery-funded school

The National Lotteries Commission’s claims about how R28.3-million was spent to rebuild Vhafamadi Secondary School don’t stand up to scrutiny

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News | 8 September 2022

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New acting Lottery boss appointed

New chair, Barney Pityana, and new acting commissioner, Lionel October, take over, possibly signalling major changes at the scandal-ridden National Lotteries Commission

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Brief | 1 September 2022

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National Lotteries Commission ignored warnings about corruption

For years, the Lottery avoided, dismissed or suppressed recommendations by at least three reports urging it to take action

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Feature | 1 September 2022

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Lottery’s Phillemon Letwaba resigns under a cloud

Implicated in numerous allegations of lottery corruption, he was due to face a disciplinary hearing

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News | 25 August 2022

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ITHUBA campaign raises troubling questions for Twitter

How did a disguised advertising campaign trend to number one in South Africa? And how often does this happen?

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News | 25 August 2022