9 March 2007
I have considered the judgment of the High Court and note the respects in
which the Court has said that the process was incomplete. Having noted this I
reiterate that the process followed for awarding the licence to operate the
National Lottery was fair, rigorous and done with integrity. In this regard my
confidence in the work done by the National Lotteries Board remains.
The Court specifically requires me to comprehensively consider the
shareholding of all bidders. As much as I previously examined the shareholder
interests in relation to the first preferred bidder specifically and to the
extent that I deemed it necessary, I respect the Court's opinion that I did not
go far enough. In abiding with the Court's decision and in an effort to address
these matters promptly, I have requested certain information from the four
original bidders. This includes ascertaining whether all four bidders for the
licence to operate the National Lottery still wish to be considered as bidders.
Should they confirm such interest, they must furnish the National Lotteries
Board with complete lists of all their shareholders and all persons who are
shareholders in their shareholders.
I am mindful, as I seek to address the issues that the Court in its judgment
found to be incomplete, that the current mandate to operate the National
Lottery expires on 31 March 2007. In this regard I am confident that with the
prompt co-operation of all the bidders we will be able to accomplish the task
at hand without disruption to the operation of the National Lottery.
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
9 March 2007
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.dti.gov.za)
