Sizekhaya Holdings announced as 4th national lottery and sports pool license holder
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition announced Sizekhaya Holdings as the fourth national lottery and sports pool license holder.
Picture: Dylan Nolte/Unsplash
JOHANNESBURG - Following a contentious bidding process, government has finally appointed a new operator for the national lottery.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition announced Sizekhaya Holdings as the fourth national lottery and sports pool license holder.
It replaces Ithuba Holdings, which has held the licence since 2015.
Ithuba Holdings' current licence to operate the national lottery expires on 31 May this year.
A total of eight companies made bids to take over the multi-billion-rand licence.
Competition Minister Parks Tau initially wanted to issue a one-year temporary licence.
However, one of the bidders of the hotly contested licence took the department to court, saying only Ithuba Holdings’ sister company, Ithuba Lottery, had the necessary infrastructure to qualify for a temporary licence.
The North Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of the bidder and ordered Tau to announce a new licence holder on Wednesday.
Sizekhaya has been awarded an eight-year licence, however, it is still unclear at this stage when it will assume control of the national lottery.