Pretoria High Court sets aside Sizekhaya lottery licence award
Regulation1 min read
South Africa’s Pretoria High Court effectively set aside the award of the national lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings, while Trade minister Parks Tau said officials were assessing next steps. The court ordered Sizekhaya’s operations to continue pending resolution and gave Tau six months to restart the tender; National Lotteries Commission officials said sales reached R2.1bn against a R3.5bn projection and remained 21.7% below revised 2026/27 targets.
A Pretoria High Court ruling has effectively nullified Sizekhaya Holdings’ award of South Africa’s national lottery licence. The court directed Sizekhaya to keep operating as usual while the matter is resolved. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau was given six months to restart the tender.
The ruling criticised Tau’s appointment of a separate ministerial advisory team to review the tender. Unsuccessful bidders, including former lottery operator Ithuba, challenged the appointment.
Operators often slow down after a licence change as some players adjust to a new provider, National Lotteries Commission officials said. Tau told a parliamentary committee that officials were evaluating the ruling and their options; the government has yet to decide its next step.