EFF statement on the court judgment to nullify the corruptly and illegally appointed Acting Chairperson of the National Lotteries Board

Saturday, 08 May 2021

The EFF welcomes the judgement by the Gauteng High Court to nullify the illegally and corruptly appointed acting Chairperson of the National Lotteries Board, Zandile Brown by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ibrahim Patel. Brown was appointed after the term of the former Chairperson, Professor Alfred Nevhutanda came to an end in 2020.

The EFF is vindicated as we have previously warned that Patel's intentions were malicious and corrupt from the onset. Patel is manipulating the process to appoint the Chairperson in order to corruptly award the lottery license to his friends in the HCI and REMGRO who donated money to CR17. Patel initially wanted to handpick and impose his preferred Chairperson without involving Parliament.

On the 16. of November 2020, Patel wrote to the Speaker of National Assembly Thandi Modise to demand that the National Assembly recommend one name out of the three names he handpicked. He had handpicked Thuli Madonsela, Frank Chikane and Barney Pityana, all who, are part of CR17 faction, and would be willing to award the lottery licenses corruptly to HCI and REMGRO.

The EFF wrote a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly on the 17. of November 2020, to demand that Parliament follows the correct and legal process to appoint the Chairperson of the NLB, in terms of the Lotteries Act 57 of 1997 Section 3.3. Section 3.3 specifically states that a Chairperson of the NLC should be appointed through a National Assembly process wherein the Portfolio Committee of Trade and Industry receive all CVs of nominated candidates, screen, call public comments, shortlist, interview and recommend to the National Assembly. Patel wanted to undermine this process that is legislated for malicious and corrupt purposes.

As a result of the EFF intervention, the portfolio committee undertook a transparent and honest process. The interview process was the most credible manner in which the Chairperson of the NLC could be appointed. But the Chairperson of the portfolio committee cannot trusted with overseeing this process as he has a previous beneficial employment relationship and their close relationship has already shown signs of concerns. The committee was very clear on who is preferable for chairperson of the NLC board, but Patel wants to impose his puppet so that he can manipulate and corrupt the lottery license processes.

The EFF will demand the tabling of the portfolio committee report urgently in the National Assembly to ensure finalization of the appointment of a Chairperson of the NLC. The EFF will continue to oversee the process to ensure that no illegitimate Chairperson is appointed to the NLC Board to ensure that both the license and monies that are distributed to civil Society are done under a corruption free and transparent leadership.

We again warn Minister Patel to cease trying to bolster his already weak leadership into the NLC, and rather focus on a robust and aggressive economic recovery plan that will make sure we still have a country for the next generation.

Issued by Vuyani Pambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 9 May 2021