The Lottery and its discontents

Here are articles on who plays the South African Lottery, how the Lottery money is distributed, and dodgy dealings by the National Lotteries Commission and its recipients.

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DTI washes its hands of lottery scandal

Minister Ebrahim Patel is legally obliged to hold the National Lotteries Commission accountable

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News | 15 August 2019

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Lottery-funded rehab centre unfinished after two years

#DodgyLottery part four: R17 million has been spent on Kuruman facility

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Feature | 12 August 2019

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The Lottery-funded library with empty shelves

#DodgyLottery part three: R20 million has been spent on the Credo Mutwa Museum and Library, with very little to show for it

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Feature | 7 August 2019

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Kuruman’s unfinished R23 million old age home

#DodgyLottery part two: The National Lotteries Commission has denied that companies linked to its COO are involved. We present evidence to the contrary.

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Feature | 5 August 2019

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Conflicts of interest and incomplete projects: How Lottery money is being spent

#DodgyLottery part one: National Lotteries Commission COO Phillemon Letwaba linked to controversial grants

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Feature | 1 August 2019

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Limpopo’s forgotten schools and the Lottery’s expensive toilets

R10 million grant went to Gauteng company with no experience

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Feature | 24 May 2019

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Journalist receives strange letter from supposed lottery beneficiary

Letter follows exposé of controversies over lottery funding

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News | 22 May 2019

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Lottery admits it’s investigating projects it defended

Department of Trade and Industry ordered investigation, but Lottery spins a different story

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News | 16 May 2019

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Probe into fraud and corruption at National Lotteries Commission

Trade and Industry minister Rob Davies orders investigation

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News | 13 May 2019

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Lottery’s promise of toilets leaves a nasty smell

Photos used to show progress building ablution facilities at different schools are of the same structures

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Feature | 3 May 2019

Photo of hand filling in Lottery ticket

Lottery recipient’s attempt to muzzle media fails - for now

Court refuses to hear urgent application from Lesley Ramulifho against GroundUp, The Citizen and Daily Dispatch

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Brief | 17 April 2019

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Lottery has to do more with less

R2 billion distributed in 2017/18, but revenue not keeping up with demand for funding

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Brief | 21 March 2019

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GROUNDVIEW: Lottery looting needs to be investigated – urgently

Millions of South Africans buy Lottery tickets. There is growing evidence that their trust is being misused.

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GroundView | 20 March 2019

Photo of person filling out Lottery ticket

Lottery gives out more money to associates of controversial lawyer

R20m awarded to companies linked to Lesley Ramulifho whose other project is under investigation

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Feature | 19 March 2019

Photo of person filling out Lottery ticket

The Lawyer, the Lottery and millions in dodgy grants

National Lotteries Commission launches investigation into multi-million rand grants

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News | 14 December 2018

Photo of Lotto funded buildings

How a hijacked organisation scored millions from the Lottery

Troubling questions for the COO of the National Lotteries Commission

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Feature | 22 November 2018