Court Dismisses Ithuba Bid to Block South Africa Lottery Handover
The Pretoria High Court dismissed Ithuba’s urgent application to block the handover of South Africa’s national lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings. Judge Ronel Tolmay ruled Ithuba’s push for an interdict lacked sufficient urgency and failed to outweigh the need to keep lottery services running without disruption. The ruling clears the way for Sizekhaya to proceed with preparations for taking over operations on June 1, 2026.
Public Interest Supports Continuity
Tolmay wrote it is in the public interest that the lottery should continue uninterrupted. There is nothing before this court to indicate that Sizekhaya is not in a position to comply with its obligations in terms of the licence. Ithuba continues under a temporary extension until the handover date.
Ithuba initiated the legal challenge earlier this year after losing the bid for the fourth national lottery licence. The five-year contract is worth $8.7 billion. The company argued the award to Sizekhaya violated fair procurement rules under the Lotteries Act.
Review Application Details Procurement Concerns
Ithuba filed a review application on July 4 claiming irregularities including ignored scoring criteria on technical expertise. The company cited unqualified evaluation committee members and unexamined political ties among Sizekhaya’s shareholders. It sought the interdict on September 1 citing irreparable harm if Sizekhaya embedded systems before full review.
The court found the delay in filing the interdict to be self-created. Tolmay balanced commercial risks to Ithuba against potential revenue loss for education and health programs. She concluded the potential impact on public services was too great to ignore.
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