Sizekhaya ramps up recruitment for key digital and draw roles ahead of South Africa’s National Lottery takeover
New vacancies for digital operations and draw management signal continued preparations as Sizekhaya gears up to take over the National Lottery on June 1, 2026.
South Africa.- South Africa’s incoming National Lottery operator Sizekhaya is stepping up preparations for its June takeover, with new recruitment signalling that the transition from incumbent operator Ithuba Holdings is entering its final phase.
The company, set to assume control of the National Lottery on June 1 2026 under an eight-year National Lottery and Sports Pools licence, has opened vacancies for an Online Gaming Operations Manager and a Draw Officer, two roles that highlight both the digital platform demands and strict regulatory standards of the incoming lottery operation.
The appointments come as Sizekhaya advances wider rollout plans, including broader access through banks, retail outlets, handheld devices and township-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), alongside plans for larger jackpots and more frequent rollovers designed to build bigger prize pools.
For its Online Gaming Operations Manager role, Sizekhaya said it is seeking “a hands-on Online Gaming Operations Manager to drive platform performance, integrations, and player experience”.
The position includes platform operations, Application Programming Interface (API) management and third-party integrations, as well as system performance, security oversight, backend market optimisation and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) reporting. Improving frontend user experience also forms part of the brief, reflecting the operator’s focus on improving player experience and platform efficiency ahead of launch.
The role also includes responsibilities linked to South African regulations, including the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), underlining the importance of strong governance as Sizekhaya prepares to take over one of the country’s most closely regulated gaming operations. Applicants are expected to have at least three years of experience in igaming or fintech, with strong API knowledge and a solid understanding of South Africa’s betting and payments ecosystem.
Draw integrity and compliance
Sizekhaya is also recruiting for a Draw Officer within its National Lottery Operations team – a role focused on safeguarding the integrity of live draw activities and ensuring strict adherence to approved procedures.
“We are seeking a disciplined and detail-oriented Draw Officer to join our National Lottery Operations team,” the company said in the vacancy notice. It added: “This role is critical in ensuring the integrity, security and compliance of all live draw activities in line with approved procedures and regulatory standards.”
The Draw Officer will oversee pre-draw setup and testing, live draw machine operations, post-draw securing and documentation, as well as incident response during operational disruptions. The role requires adherence to draw procedures, game rules and National Lotteries Commission regulations, placing security, accuracy and operational discipline at the centre of the appointment.
The recruitment drive aligns with recent comments from Sizekhaya COO Fundi Sithebe, who said the company is focused on ensuring a seamless transition when the licence officially changes hands in June. Sizekhaya plans to roll out new systems within the next few weeks, improve accessibility across underserved communities and strengthen its retail and banking distribution network as part of its broader launch strategy.
With launch day approaching, Sizekhaya’s preparations are moving beyond strategy and into execution, where digital platform stability, draw security and regulatory control will be critical to the success of South Africa’s next National Lottery chapter.
