8 Responses to “Lottery update”  

1. 1 Candice Apr 12th, 2007 at 6:47 pm

   Well Yojules, your positivity is amazing but then again not that suprising considering that your “good authority” would most probably mean a bride…. if you believe you (Gidani) will get it back after a court ruling says you can’t, can only indicate one thing to me, what I suspected with regards the lotto rebid from day one. Bribery and corruption!

2. 2 ying Apr 12th, 2007 at 6:59 pm

   I agree totally with Candice on this one, once again! How much was your “hocus pocus” connection bribed this time if you are so sure you will get the licence. This whole suspension thing in my eyes is due to corruption and bribery from the start. Do you people not understand what it means when your licence has been taken away? You should not be out there running around like chickens without heads! Instead wake up and smell the roses!

3. 3 yojules Apr 12th, 2007 at 8:40 pm

   Sorry guys: my language was confusing. When I say ‘hocus pocus’, I mean those people who predict the future (in this case, with a pendulum - really just a bit of fun! I really wish it was possible to read the future!): I really was just having a giggle about it.

   I’m amazed at how quickly that took you into the ‘bribe’ space, though: quite a hectic thing for you to say. Anybody who knows us would be really shocked that you would allege such things - I’ve never even tried to bribe a traffic cop…! I will spend my whole life supporting constructive and positive ways of building this country, and will never allow myself to be involved with bribery and corruption in any way. But you don’t know me, so how would you know?

   But I understand your suspicions: it’s so easy to get despondant in South Africa sometimes. Hearing about corruption all over the place makes people quite cynical and jaded about the motivations of people. The worms coming out of the woodwork about the arms deal and other scandals can lead us to suspect such things in all places where big money is in play: I heard someone say recently “Wherever there is big money, you’re bound to find a couple of rogues”

   I can only speak from my own experience of Gidani: good businesspeople with the interests of South Africans at heart. They have always dealt with us with the utmost of respect, integrity and fair play. I hope that they will have the opportunity to earn your trust in the future as they have already earned mine.

   On a more factual note: the court didn’t rule on Gidani at all, in fact: the ruling simply stated that the selection process was flawed, specifically because of Uthingo’s shareholders containing a government official (who has since sold her shares). The judge said it was unnecessary to rule about Gidani, because the flaw was already discovered in the Uthingo consortium. So we will all have to wait for a while before the process takes it’s course. I expect a lot mer twists and turns as this proceeds: it is a most interesting and unusual situation, you must admit!

   I wish you could meet the incredible people we have been able to deal with in the Gidani team. Bongani Khumalo and his board have been fair and committed taskmasters. In every one of our dealings with them, they have continued to challenge us to use the opportunity they gave us to continue upskill and uplift South Africans. We will not stop doing the best job we can in return, and be faithful to that promise.

4. 4 Emily Apr 13th, 2007 at 11:17 am

   Ok, well, seen as you like to consider yourself an informed person, let me help you out with that. And please do not get offended at the passion and emotion behind any comments on here, as this whole thing has left alot of people without jobs and with only confusion to sift through, as everyone has their own version of the story. I have been visiting your site to keep up to date with every side of the story, but i’m not sitting back anymore, reading what you say, and not responding.
   O, and from my side, don’t flatter yourself, this is not directed at you YoJules, as you said I too do not personally know you, or Avo Vision or Ngikwazi, but it is directed to Gidani, as everything I have discovered about them and Intralot, does not earn my respect.

   On a factual note, as I myself have read over the court case, the Judge did not rule that the process was flawed, the news papers said that, even though it was the reason for his decision, it was not in his actual ruling, his actual ruling said that the decision to award the license to Gidani has been set aside. But it has now become like two children standing in a playground pointing fingers at each other about the shareholders debate. Well again, let’s clear that up, the government official in question when it comes to Uthingo’s shares, infact did not directly own shares in Uthingo. She had shares in another company, which has shares in Uthingo, which makes her end up with shares in Uthingo. Which she then sold when this was realised. Whereas according to my research, there was direct interest and ownership of shares from government officials in Gidani.

   Which is why Gidani just reeks of corruption, and why so many people have caught onto their scent. Let us also delve into the other aspects of Gidani that raises eyebrows. While I’m glad they pay you in full to all be doing jobs that a judge ruled should be set aside, it amazes me further. Their financial backers Intralot also have a dark cloud over them, this was raised by the DA even before the license was issued and was nicely overlooked, once again raising the suspision of bribery.

   And on a side note, you all are so proud that you have the opportunity to enrich the country, which I think is great but can’t help wondering what is happening to all the Uthingo staff and people who had a job for 7 years. In my opinion, (again nothing against you or in this case even Gidani) but purely the NLB and the minister, from my research there was no need to not give Uthingo the license again, and especially not to give it to a company with such speculation. Now the facts being published reflect this to be the case. So in light of this, how can anyone not suspect bribery and now even worse, he has disrupted the entire lotto with very far reaching effects.

5. 5 yojules Apr 13th, 2007 at 12:33 pm

   Hi Emily

   Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I share your sadness about people out of jobs: if the transition between the two entities could have been handled better, I think many of those people would have been able to seek employment within the new provider. But the horrible rivalry (that you can see reflected in the other comments on this, and other blogs about this subject) that happened because of this confusion in the marketplace seemed to polarise people so badly, that no healthy transition has happened!

   As I understand it, NLB legislation requires the license to go out for tender every 7 years: it was not done on somebody’s whim or fancy: it is part of business best practice. 4 consortiums went through the bidding and selection process, and Gidani was selected as the most worthy contender. Very many aspects would have been addressed in that process which led them to the decision that they preferred Gidani’s value proposition. You are perfectly correct in saying the license was ’set aside’ by the judge, but it was specifically because the process was at fault as Uthingo had the faulty shareholding as you correctly describe. The judge did NOT find against Gidani’s shareholding: he ruled that it was ‘unnecessary to rule’ as the fault had already been discovered in Uthingo’s shareholding. If Uthingo had been named as the second contender (without being disqualified as a contender), the process was unsound, and therefore the award to Gidani needed to be reviewed.

   I stand under correction, but I believe you are also not correct about Gidani’s shareholders consisting of government officials. There are 2 ANC officials: Max Sisulu and Chris Nissen, neither of whom are elected to government in any way. The debate is about the definition of ‘political office bearers’: does that, or does that not mean ANC officials? Although the ANC leads government, they are NOT the government. Unfortunately, the judge did not make a ruling about the Gidani sharholders, just Uthingo, so I’m not sure anyone knows how this debate will pan out.

   I’m intrigued that you are so convinced that the media coverage about Intralot’s roots is correct, whereas you know that the newspapers are not necessarily reporting this current state of affairs in a factual way. If you know of any actual facts that would make the serious allegations of corruption that you are bandying about so easily, you really should make them known to the authorities. The one thing I am delighted about in this country is that the corrupt are outed: between the DA and Patricia De Lille, corrupt government officials are finding it hard to keep themselves in business. I’m not sure what your political affiliations are, but I’m sure either of those parties would be delighted to hear facts that they could use to make a case, if, indeed there is a case to make.

   An interesting insider comment I have heard from one of our international clients, is that the tender and selection process of the South African National Lotteries Board has been the strictest and most rigorous they have encountered anywhere in the world. I think that’s something to be proud of: the board has put processes and legislation in place precisely to protect South Africans against the kind of scenario you are describing.

   But we are on the same side about the sadness about the confusion in the market: every day the Lottery remains suspended, ticket sales are suspended. I hope that this does not affect the South African organisations who depend on the Lottery for their livelihood.

   Keep challenging the system, Emily, and keep asking questions: it’s only when people like you probe into what seems to be, or what troubles you, that people are held accountable for their actions. I’m going to continue to believe in the integrity of Gidani, because of my first hand experience of the people involved. Let’s see what the future brings.

6. 6 yingyang Apr 13th, 2007 at 10:06 pm

   Emily you go girl! So glad to see someone else has the same suspicions as most South Africans out there regarding the bribery involved! It is so clear to everyone out there that people dont even talk about lottery anymore as you get the same old story “please it has to be bribery as why did the minister wait for the 11th hour”. As far as Yojules reply to you states that Uthingo staff would have been “able to seek employment within the new provider” What an absolute joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have to my knowledge taken over a number of Uthingos staff because they were trained well by Uthingo in the first license period! The rest of the team is Family and Friends and who knew who at the time! They have really got some “vrot” apples in some of the regions. Well good luck to them and their “Family Tree of Staff”. The truth will come out and then we will all know about the corruption and bribery that went on.

7. 7 yojules Apr 16th, 2007 at 12:51 pm

   Ouch, yingyang. You live with so much negativity, I find it quite overwhelming! I actually am struggling to continue to respond to you with respect when your own offerings so clearly lack it. Definitely not the spirit of constructive and honest debate we’re used to. I’m not actually going to answer any more of your anonymous, unfounded, unsubstantiated, bitter attacks.

8. 8 yingyang Apr 16th, 2007 at 9:42 pm

   yojules as you please my dearest! Negativity and dishonesty definately not from me! not attacking at all, just setting out the truth in plain simple english. Never asked you for a reply. Site is open for anyone to view their opinions of which i will continue to do until the truth is revealed. Why are my comments bothering you so? Sorry i forgot you wont be answering me. Trust me i will be back!

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