NLC awards US$99.6m in lottery grants under 2024/25 funding cycle
The funding cycle was the first to use the NLC’s Thuthuka digital grant management system, which introduced additional compliance and governance controls.
Key takeaways:
- The NLC awarded R1.657bn (US$99.6m) in grants under its 2024/25 funding cycle.
- The commission reviewed 2,492 applications and reported 1,771 rejections.
- The charities sector received the largest allocation, with R917m (US$55.1m) awarded.
- The NLC expects to open a targeted funding call for the disability sector in early 2027.
South Africa.- The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has awarded grants worth R1.657bn (US$99.6m) to organisations across South Africa under its 2024/25 funding cycle. In an update published on Thursday, November 12, the NLC said the grants covered the charities, sport and recreation, arts, culture and national heritage, and miscellaneous sectors.
The application process opened on December 2, 2024, and closed on March 31, 2025. It was the first funding cycle administered through the NLC’s Thuthuka digital grant management system, which introduced additional compliance checks and governance controls to improve efficiency and curb fraud and corruption.
As of October 30, 2026, the commission had reviewed 2,492 applications and awarded grants to 721 organisations. It had declined another 1,771 applications over issues relating to the accuracy of financial records, compliance with funding guidelines, and tax and regulatory requirements. The NLC also confirmed that 44 grants were awarded following appeals.
How were the grants distributed across the four sectors?
The charities sector received the largest share of funding, with 401 grants valued at R917m (US$55.1m) approved. A further 786 applications in the sector were declined. In sport and recreation, 167 grants worth R386.7m (US$23.2m) were awarded, while 468 applications were declined.
The arts, culture and heritage sector received 135 grants valued at R304.3m (US$18.3m), while 363 applications were declined. The miscellaneous sector accounted for 18 grants worth R48.9m (US$2.9m), with 110 applications declined.
NLC Commissioner Jodi Scholtz said the adjudication process had taken longer than expected because of the high number of applications that did not meet compliance requirements. She said the commission had to assist organisations in meeting statutory requirements before their applications could be assessed. Scholtz also thanked civil society organisations and other stakeholders for their patience throughout the process.
The NLC said it anticipates opening a targeted funding call for the disability sector in early 2027.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- What is the NLC’s 2024/25 funding cycle? It is the round of lottery-funded grants that South Africa’s National Lotteries Commission awarded to organisations in the charities, sport and recreation, arts, culture and national heritage, and miscellaneous sectors. Applications opened on December 2, 2024, and closed on March 31, 2025.
- How much did the NLC award under the 2024/25 cycle? The NLC awarded R1.657bn (US$99.6m) in grants. The charities sector received the largest share, with R917m (US$55.1m).
- How many applications did the NLC decline? The commission declined 1,771 of the 2,492 applications it reviewed, mainly over the accuracy of financial records, compliance with funding guidelines, and tax and regulatory requirements.
- What is the Thuthuka grant management system? Thuthuka is the NLC’s digital grant management system. The 2024/25 cycle was the first one administered through it, and the NLC said it introduced additional compliance checks and governance controls.
- When will the NLC open its next funding call? The NLC said it anticipates opening a targeted funding call for the disability sector in early 2027.
