Lotto winners won't lose out
Johannesburg - Uthingo will continue to pay out National Lottery winners despite the fact that its licence to operate expired at midnight on Saturday. Uthingo's chief executive Oupa Monamodi said in a statement on Sunday that players could rest assured that Uthingo "will continue to protect their interests and will continue to pay prizes".
Uthingo urged retailers to continue validating tickets and make prize payments until further notice.
"However, without the assurance of certain indemnities and safeguards, Uthingo was opposed to the National Lottery Board's (NLB) decision that it must continue paying out prizes after March 31."
The NLB made an urgent application to court for an order compelling Uthingo to pay out prizes after the expiry of its licence.
Uthingo contended in court that while it was willing to pay out prizes, it needed certain indemnities and safeguards.
On Saturday, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa announced there would be no lottery for at least a month.
"The sheer volume of work which had to be undertaken... made it impossible to conclude this work in time for me to make a new decision before the expiry of the current (lottery operator's licence)," Mpahlwa said.
The current licence (Uthingo) expired on Saturday at midnight and "there was no legal basis to extend it in the present circumstances," he said.
The announcement of the new lottery operator would be made in a month's time.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday the suspension of the Lotto and the awarding of a new lottery operator should be debated in parliament.
Party MP Pierre Rabie said the DA would call for a parliamentary debate on the matter this week.
He said the suspension that followed the Pretoria High Court's reversal of the Lotto licence award stemmed from Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa's neglect of his duties, a lack of leadership and the inefficiency of the National Lotteries Board.
"One can only hope that the Minister will this time around ensure that extensive probity checks are conducted properly, ensuring that all the dubious questions about government's preferred operator are cleared up."
The minister must prove a plan existed for the speedy awarding of the licence, he said.
Government officials responsible should also be brought to account.
Article from www.news24.com
Always win at www.southafrica-carhire.com
Uthingo urged retailers to continue validating tickets and make prize payments until further notice.
"However, without the assurance of certain indemnities and safeguards, Uthingo was opposed to the National Lottery Board's (NLB) decision that it must continue paying out prizes after March 31."
The NLB made an urgent application to court for an order compelling Uthingo to pay out prizes after the expiry of its licence.
Uthingo contended in court that while it was willing to pay out prizes, it needed certain indemnities and safeguards.
On Saturday, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa announced there would be no lottery for at least a month.
"The sheer volume of work which had to be undertaken... made it impossible to conclude this work in time for me to make a new decision before the expiry of the current (lottery operator's licence)," Mpahlwa said.
The current licence (Uthingo) expired on Saturday at midnight and "there was no legal basis to extend it in the present circumstances," he said.
The announcement of the new lottery operator would be made in a month's time.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday the suspension of the Lotto and the awarding of a new lottery operator should be debated in parliament.
Party MP Pierre Rabie said the DA would call for a parliamentary debate on the matter this week.
He said the suspension that followed the Pretoria High Court's reversal of the Lotto licence award stemmed from Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa's neglect of his duties, a lack of leadership and the inefficiency of the National Lotteries Board.
"One can only hope that the Minister will this time around ensure that extensive probity checks are conducted properly, ensuring that all the dubious questions about government's preferred operator are cleared up."
The minister must prove a plan existed for the speedy awarding of the licence, he said.
Government officials responsible should also be brought to account.
Article from www.news24.com
Always win at www.southafrica-carhire.com
Labels: South Africa - crime
