Foreword by the Minister

This Annual Report provides an account of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) for the past financial year ending March 2020.

The main focus of the Ministry during the period was on implementation of a package of measures to boost investment, increase manufacturing output and localisation, support trade measures to create local jobs and build a capable and ethical state. In respect of building state capacity, the Department stepped up efforts to improve governance and oversight of public entities falling within its mandate.

The NLC is an important agency and its work is intended to serve the poorest and most vulnerable of South Africans. The Report provides details of the activities of the NLC, and its list of beneficiaries in the 2019/20 financial year. The previous report did not contain the beneficiary list and this was subsequently addressed through release of the information by the NLC to Parliament, following a request by both the Ministry and the Portfolio Committee of Parliament. This is in line with ensuring transparency and accountability in the affairs of public entities.

During the pandemic, the NLC has made funds available for the purposes of addressing the impact of COVID-19 on communities and details of these are being made available to the relevant parliamentary oversight committees. As we step up these efforts, there will be additional scope for support from the NLC in this regard.

This past year has seen a number of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public money, relating to NLC projects. These allegations are contributing to the erosion of public trust in the institution. The Ministry has instituted an independent forensic investigation to address the allegations and contribute to the restoration of public trust in the work of the NLC.

I look forward to the support of the Board and Management in addressing these challenges to enable the NLC to fulfill its statutory mandate

Mr Ebrahim Patel
Minister for Trade and Industry, and Competition