LOTTERIES AMENDMENT BILL
PRESENTATION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 6 NOVEMBER 2013
PRESENTERS
MS. Z NTULI – DDG CCRD
MS. C MAKAEPEA – DIRECTOR: REGULATED INDUSTRIES
MR. N MASHAMAITE – DEPUTY DIRECTOR: REGULATED INDUSTRIES
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Purpose
• To brief the Select Committee on Trade
and International Relations on the
Lotteries Amendment Bill
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Background
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The Lotteries Act came into effect in 1997.
In 2007 a study was conducted on the performance and the challenges.
In 2009 the Minister commissioned the Gambling Review.
In 2010 a Roundtable was conducted and chaired by the Minister.
In 2010 a Working Group was established and chaired by DDG, Ms Zodwa Ntuli.
In July 2010 Minister issued Regulations to provide direction on the distribution of funds.
In September 2010 the Gambling Review Commission presented its report to the Minister.
In 2010 a Regulatory Impact Assessment was conducted on the Policy proposals.
The report by the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the GRC was concluded in
March 2012.
In June 2011 NLB was requested to have a stakeholder engagement on the issues
pertaining to distribution of funds.
In May 2013 the draft Policy and Bill were taken to Cabinet for wider consultation. The
Policy was adopted in April 2013 and the Bill was published on 8 May 2013; comments
closed on 7 June 2013. The were no Policy changes to the Bill. The Bill was submitted to
the State Law Advisor for certification. The Bill was certified on 10 July 2013 and
introduced into Parliament in July 2013
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Policy Issues
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Accountability of Distribution Agencies (DAs)
Quorum and conflict of interest
Simplification of the process
Categorisation of grants
Disbursement of the funds
Size of the Board
Differentiation of NLB & the National Lotteries Board
Role of the Minister and that of the Board
Proactive funding
Grants through conduits
Internal review mechanism of decisions
Auditing of financial statements
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Objectives of the Bill
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To outline the Lotteries Amendment Bill so as to amend the Lotteries Act, Act
No. 57 of 1997 (the Act).
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To provide for the establishment of a National Lotteries Commission.
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To provide for the extension of the powers of the Commission.
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To provide for the licensing of Organ of State to conduct National Lottery.
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To provide for a clear accountability process for Distributing Agencies.
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To eliminate overlapping of functions between the Minister and the Board.
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To provide for the removal of Reconstruction and Development Programme
(RDP) as a category.
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Conflict of Interest
• The Bill has enhanced the provisions relating
to staff members, Board Members and
Distribution Agencies (DAs).
• The DAs will be appointed on a full-time
bases and will be governed by the Policies of
the NLB. (Section 26 A - H)
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Establishment of National Lotteries [Board]
Commission
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The Act uses the word “Board” interchangeably referring to both the
National Lotteries Board and the ‘Board’ that has an oversight role.
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To address this issue:
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Section 2 of the principal Act is amended to establish a Commission to be
known as the National Lotteries Commission. Clause 2 and 3 on page 3
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The Board, in consultation with the Minister must appoint a person with suitable
qualifications and experience as Commissioner of the Commission. Page 4, line
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The Commissioner may appoint such staff members as may be necessary to
efficiently and effectively perform the functions and duties of the Commission
on such terms and conditions determined by the Board and approved by the
Minister in consultation with the Minister of Finance. Page 4, line 46
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Extension of the powers of the Commission
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The Commission’s main functions are to ensure that:
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The National Lottery and sports pools are conducted with all due propriety and
strictly according to the Constitution, this Act, all other applicable law and licence
for the National Lottery together with any agreement pertaining to that licence.
Page 3, line 35
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The interests of every participant in the National Lottery are adequately
protected. Page 3, line 40
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The Commission promote public knowledge and awareness about the lotteries
and provisions of this Act. Page 3, line 49
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Exercise any other function as delegated or directed by the Minister or Board.
Page 4, line 6
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Licensing of Organ of State to conduct National
Lottery
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The appointment of Organ of State to conduct the National Lottery in the event
that the Minister decides on justifiable grounds not to issue a licence as
contemplated in section 13. Section 13A(1)
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The Minister may, after consultation with the Board, licence or authorise an
Organ of State to conduct the National Lottery for a period not exceeding eight
(8) years. Section 13A(1)
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In deciding whether justifiable grounds contemplated in sub-section (1) exists,
the Minister may take into consideration national government plans or priorities
which are not achieved if a third party is appointed. Section 13A(2)
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Accountability process for Distributing Agency
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The Distributing Agency will be appointed and dismissed by the Minister after
consultation with the Board. Section 26A read with 26D(9)(c)
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The members of the Distributing Agency will be appointed for a period of five (5)
years which may be renewed once, to serve on a full time basis. Section 26B(3)
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The Distributing Agency must adhere to policy directives, code of ethics
approved by the Board and applicable within the public sector.
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The Distributing Agency shall be responsible for receiving, evaluating, verifying,
adjudicating applications for grants and distributing grants to good causes.
Section 26B(1)
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The number of the Distributing Agency members in each category shall be
determined by the Minister after consultation with the Board in line with the size
of the funds in such categories. Section 26B(2)
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Elimination of overlapping of functions between the
Minister and the board
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The provisions of the Act give an impression on literal interpretation that both the
Board and the Minister have equal powers in relation to varying conditions of the
licence.
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The Act often refers to the Minister or the Board in various critical sections that
clearly should not be the case.
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All anomalies in respect of the roles and functions of the Minister and the Board
were identified and clarified. Section 13 A(i), clause 14 (b), clause 15 (a), clause
16,17 and 18.
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Removal of RDP as a category entitled to be
allocated money of the fund
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The Amendment Bill has removed the Reconstruction and Development
Programme (RDP) as it has been dormant. Clause 23
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The miscellaneous category will include proactive funding.
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Funding through conduits has been retained but limited to exceptional
circumstances.
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CRITICAL COMMENTS FROM STAKEHOLDERS
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On 08 May 2013 the dti published the Lotteries Amendment Bill for broader public consultation and the submission
of comments closed on 07 June 2013.
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Comments received from stakeholders raised the following concerns on the Lotteries Amendment Bill (the dti’s
responses are in bold):
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Organ of State being appointed to run the Lottery – it will remove the industry expertise that come with a
private sector operator and will lead to poor management , common with State Owned Entities (SOEs).
the dti feels the Organ of State should remain as the said Organ would only be appointed if private
appointees fail to realise national objectives.
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The professionalisation of the Distributing Agencies - their independence cannot be guaranteed against
interference of the Board and politics.
The Distributing Agency will only account to the Board on administration issues and not on their
adjudication functions.
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The proposed internal review mechanisms - it is felt that an independent tribunal or ombudsman should be
appointed as the proposed internal review mechanism will not guarantee impartiality because it will be the
Board reviewing its own decision.
An independent tribunal will come at a high cost, the proposed review mechanism will ensure courts are
not resorted unnecessarily.
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THANK YOU
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