Ithuba to Operate National Lottery Until May 2026

Minister Acts to Prevent Disruption in Lottery Services

The future of South Africa’s National Lottery was thrown into uncertainty last week when the Gauteng High Court ruled that Ithuba’s licence could only be extended for five months. This would have left a significant operational gap before Sizekhaya Holdings—the designated operator for the next 10-year term—takes over in June 2026.

The National Lottery Commission (NLC) had argued that a full 12-month extension was needed to ensure continuity and avoid disruptions. But the court disagreed, limiting Ithuba’s extension to just five months and raising the prospect of a lottery shutdown early next year.

In a last-minute intervention over the weekend, Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau granted Ithuba a full 12-month temporary licence. The decision, reached after urgent discussions with both Ithuba and the NLC, allows the operator to continue running the National Lottery from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026.

The minister’s move overrides the court’s earlier ruling and provides short-term operational certainty. According to sources close to the talks, Tau acknowledged the potential economic disruption that a lottery suspension could cause, citing the volume of participants and the scale of the national tender.

Ithuba to Operate Until May 2026

Ithuba, which has operated the National Lottery since 2015, will now oversee the system until May next year. In its court submission, the company argued that a five-month licence would result in a loss of R51 million. Following the ministerial intervention, Ithuba confirmed that it would continue running the lottery, with all games and prize distributions proceeding as normal.

“As a proudly 100% black-owned South African operator, Ithuba remains steadfast in its commitment to operate the National Lottery with integrity, transparency, and for the benefit of South Africans,” the company said on Saturday.

Tau reportedly assured Ithuba that they would not suffer financial losses under the interim arrangement and could expect to remain profitable, although no public details of the financial terms have been released.

Long-Term Questions Remain

While the short-term future of the National Lottery is now secured, the broader licensing process remains under scrutiny. Sizekhaya Holdings has been confirmed as the next long-term operator, following what Minister Tau described as the “satisfactory conclusion” of negotiations.

However, the award has already sparked legal challenges. Tau acknowledged the ongoing litigation and indicated he would seek legal advice on a possible appeal against the High Court’s judgment.

Sizekhaya Holdings is chaired by Moses Tembe and co-owned by Sandile Zungu, a prominent businessman and owner of AmaZulu FC. The company is expected to take over lottery operations from June 2026.

Meanwhile, Ithuba has reiterated its disappointment with the decision to award the next licence to Sizekhaya. The operator pointed to its investment in South Africa’s lottery infrastructure, including the development of the first African-owned central lottery system.