ID President Patricia de Lille on Suspension of Lotto: Minister must scrap entire process and start over…
2007-04-01. Following the announcement yesterday, that last night’s Lotto draw would be the last until the legal row about who will run the national lottery is sorted out, I have the following comments to make: Once again I say thank you to the independent judiciary in this country for not hesitating to act against the excesses of Government.
It is interesting that Gidani did not
appeal against the judgment of Judge Willie Seriti, who ruled that the
process by which the National Lottery Board had awarded the new licence
had been flawed because the board had failed to investigate whether
Gidani’s shareholders included political office bearers.
The judgment and its implications is a clear lesson for Government that when there are agreed and prescribed procedures, they must obey the law and carry it out to the letter.
The National Lottery Board has already announced there are reserves for 12 months so that the charities and other social care projects linked to Lottery funding will not be jeopardised.
The Independent Democrats now calls on Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa to scrap the entire process and start over.
He can simply do this on the basis that due diligence was not followed.
In public eye the process has now been tainted.
To ensure that this dark cloud is removed, the Minister must act decisively.
It should be remembered that the Judge Seriti judgment has also opened up the door for other bidders, who could also now ask for a second chance.
Let us deal with this decisively by scrapping the process and following a new one which adheres to all prescribed procedures.
The Seriti judgment also has implications for political office bearers and their business interests, which has both internally in the ANC and in the public at large been a source of great debate and concern.
Released by ID President Patricia De Lille: 084 7772 065
The judgment and its implications is a clear lesson for Government that when there are agreed and prescribed procedures, they must obey the law and carry it out to the letter.
The National Lottery Board has already announced there are reserves for 12 months so that the charities and other social care projects linked to Lottery funding will not be jeopardised.
The Independent Democrats now calls on Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa to scrap the entire process and start over.
He can simply do this on the basis that due diligence was not followed.
In public eye the process has now been tainted.
To ensure that this dark cloud is removed, the Minister must act decisively.
It should be remembered that the Judge Seriti judgment has also opened up the door for other bidders, who could also now ask for a second chance.
Let us deal with this decisively by scrapping the process and following a new one which adheres to all prescribed procedures.
The Seriti judgment also has implications for political office bearers and their business interests, which has both internally in the ANC and in the public at large been a source of great debate and concern.
Released by ID President Patricia De Lille: 084 7772 065
