The uMkhonto we Sizwe party (MK Party) has written an open letter to the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau addressing a concern of corruption and maladministration within the National Lotteries Commission (NLC).
The letter alleges that the NLC, meant to uplift the most vulnerable in society, has been transformed into a playground for political patronage, backdoor dealings, and outright maladministration of public resources.
The letter claims that the corruption started under the watch of the former Minister Patel and that the board was not appointed through a competitive or transparent process, stating that Commissioner Jodi Scholtz did not even apply for the position.
The party says the Fourth Lottery License Request for Proposals (RFP) has been compromised, with allegations of insider dealings, conflict of interest and procurement violations. They said they people tasked with this have no lawful authority to act.
The letter further reveals that the NLC is sitting on R4.3 billion in reserves, which should be distributed to those in need.
“Instead, the funds have been hoarded, and the poor have been exploited”, says the MK Party.
The MK Party is demanding immediate action from the Minister, including the disbanding of the NLC Board, the scrapping of the RFP process, and the appointment of a new, independent Board.
