SA Heads Toward Lottery Blackout as Court Blocks Ithuba’s Urgent Bid

For millions of South Africans, the national lottery is more than a lucky ticket; it’s a weekly ritual, a chance at a better life, and a lifeline for community projects. But that familiar flutter of excitement could vanish come June 1. The Pretoria High Court has just delivered a ruling that may temporarily shut down the entire lottery system — a development that’s sparked confusion, concern, and some serious legal contemplation.

At the heart of it is a bitter licensing dispute between the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and Ithuba Holdings, the current lottery operator. Ithuba’s license expires on May 31, and the NLC’s eleventh-hour legal attempt to extend it was just denied.

Why the court said no

The court’s decision was rooted in skepticism. Presiding Judge Omphemetse Mooki questioned the urgency and necessity of the NLC’s request. The NLC argued that without Ithuba, there would be a lottery vacuum for up to a year — a bleak prospect for lottery players and beneficiaries alike. But Judge Mooki didn’t buy it.

He made it clear that there’s no reason why the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition can’t appoint a temporary operator while the long-term license transition plays out. In fact, he called the idea of a year-long lottery shutdown “an exaggeration.”

Ultimately, the court found the NLC’s case weak and unconvincing. The judgment didn’t just deny the extension; it came with a hefty cost order, forcing both the NLC and Ithuba to pay legal fees — a strong message that the court viewed this application as unnecessary and poorly substantiated.

Ithuba’s frustration: “We built this system from the ground up”

Ithuba is understandably upset. After all, the company has run the lottery since 2015 and says it has transformed it into a proudly South African operation. Speaking for the company, marketing and corporate affairs head Michelle van Trotsenburg said Ithuba has invested deeply in a tech ecosystem, infrastructure, and a local workforce to keep the system running smoothly and inclusively.

“Our lottery platform was developed in Africa, for Africa. It’s built by South Africans, operated by South Africans, and reaches communities that other services struggle to touch,” she said.

The operator prides itself on pushing economic inclusion, supporting small businesses, and ensuring the proceeds go to charitable causes. Ithuba has also raised concerns that handing the license over to Sizakhaya Holdings, the new licensee, may reverse much of that progress.

What happens if no one runs the lottery?

Here’s where it gets tricky. With the court blocking Ithuba’s emergency extension, and with the NLC’s credibility in question, South Africa is in uncharted territory. If no agreement is reached, lottery terminals across the country could go dark. That’s not just a blow to players but to the community projects that rely on lottery funding — from school upgrades to elderly care homes.

Still, the court isn’t convinced the country is headed for chaos. Judge Mooki firmly believes the responsible ministry has the tools and authority to appoint someone, even on a short-term basis, to keep things running while legal and procedural battles play out.

A tense transition ahead

Behind the scenes, Ithuba is now “considering its legal options,” signaling that this fight isn’t over. There’s too much at stake — not just for the company, but for the credibility of the national lottery system.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, who now holds the key to ensuring that South Africans don’t wake up on June 1 to find the lottery shuttered. The pressure to make a swift, transparent decision is mounting.

So, will your lotto ticket still count?

That depends on what happens in the next few days. If a temporary operator isn’t appointed quickly or if no agreement is reached with Ithuba, we could see a short pause in operations. But this isn’t the end of the lottery — just a turbulent chapter in its story.

Stay informed, stay prepared

If you’re a regular player or someone whose community has benefited from lottery funding, now is the time to pay close attention. Keep up with announcements from the NLC and Ithuba, and don’t be surprised if the lottery landscape looks a bit different in the coming months.

The lottery might be about luck, but right now, South Africa is counting on leadership and legal clarity to keep hope alive.

{Source: IOL}

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