KwaZulu-Natal business leaders Moses Tembe and Sandile Zungu have secured a major victory after their consortium, Sizekhaya Holdings, was awarded the contract to operate South Africa’s National Lottery. The decision ends Ithuba Holdings’ decade-long tenure as the lottery operator since 2015.
Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau announced the appointment, with Sizekhaya Holdings set to take over the eight-year license worth an estimated R180 billion starting in June 2026. The consortium, partially owned by JSE-listed Goldrush Group, won the bid after competing against seven other groups.
To ensure a smooth transition, Sizekhaya has partnered with Genlot, a Chinese lottery operator with a 19% global market share. Ithuba will continue managing the lottery under a temporary license from June 2025 until May 2026, when Sizekhaya officially assumes control.
The decision has sparked debate, with opposition parties such as the EFF and BOSA raising concerns over transparency and potential conflicts of interest, citing Zungu’s ties to the ANC. Legal challenges may also arise, as Minister Tau seeks to appeal a recent High Court ruling related to the interim licensing arrangement.
As Tembe and Zungu prepare to lead the National Lottery into its next phase, questions remain about how Sizekhaya will navigate public scrutiny and deliver on its commitments.