Parks Tau speaks out on lottery operator licence row
The minister added that the bidding exercise was highly competitive due to the strong pool of applicants who demonstrated substantial financial capacity and expertise.
South Africa.- As the controversy surrounding the awarding of the lottery operator licence to Sizekhaya rages, Minister of Trade and Industry, Parks Tau, has expressed confidence in the decision-making process that led to the approval of Sizekhaya’s bid.
In a meeting with the portfolio committee on Tuesday, June 24, Tau outlined the multi-step appointment process involved in selecting the national lotteries operator.
Tau said: “When I became minister last year, I inherited the process of awarding this fourth national lotteries operator licence after extending Ithuba Holdings’ licence for two years. The request for proposals was issued, and we received eight applications. The evaluation committee is currently working on the evaluation.”
Tau noted that these steps were essential for maintaining necessary checks and balances. He also said that fairness and transparency were key priorities at every stage of the licensing process.
The minister added that the bidding exercise was highly competitive due to the strong pool of applicants who demonstrated substantial financial capacity and expertise. According to the minister, these factors made the licence awarding process challenging and delayed the winner’s announcement.
He said: “I accept the delay was unfortunate. However, I was confronted with the choice to rush the decision or conduct further investigations. I chose the latter to ensure I fulfilled my duty in accordance with the law.”
Tau assured the country that he had made an informed decision and affirmed his adherence to the Lotteries Act.
