Opposition MPs reject DTIC budget over lottery contract award
An EFF MP referred to the DTIC as a cash cow for the ruling party.
South Africa.- The row over the South African national lottery licence contract has escalated to the national assembly. On July 4, 2025, the budget presentation of the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) by Minister Parks Tau in parliament was met with criticism and rejection from opposition members.
Parties like the BOSA and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had earlier questioned the transparency and fairness of the process that led to the emergence of Sizekhaya as the new lottery operator.
The EFF claims the contract being awarded to Sizekhaya is corrupt because of the consortium’s shareholders, Sandile Zungun and Moses Tembe, having alleged ties to government officials.
A report from investigative journalism outfit amaBhungane exposing one of Bellamont Gaming’s co-owners – and Sizekhaya shareholder – as the twin sister of Deputy President Paul Mashatile‘s wife has further inflamed allegations of cronyism and conflicts of interest in the contract award process.
Opposition MPs capitalised on the budget debate to condemn the government’s handling of the contract.
As reported by Eyewitness News, EFF MP Chumani Matiwane referred to the DTIC as a revenue grab for the ruling party. He noted that in a “normal world” members will only focus on the budget.
Matiwane said: “But this is not a normal world. This is the world where this department has been identified as a cash cow for the ANC. We therefore cannot in good conscience support this budget vote.”
His stance was supported by MK Party MP Edward Ntshingila, who also criticised the budget for failing to address the country’s pressing challenges. Instead, he argued that it sustains exclusion and poverty, and fails to drive transformation.
Since the allegations surfaced, individuals named in the controversy, like Tembe and Paul Mashatile, have come out to deny the claims.
