Previous National Lotteries Fee (NLC) board chairperson Alfred Nevhutanda asked the State Protection Company (SSA) in December 2018 to research the leaking of files that uncovered lottery corruption.
The NLC’s business secretary at the time shown media stories she claimed ended up based on “stolen” information within an affidavit to the SSA.
The SSA did investigate. It uncovered the knowledge was not a subject of state stability and that the “prevalence of alleged corruption and irregularities” gave “enough motive” for your media to reveal it.
A fresh board and administration has given that taken over the NLC and To this point have taken actions to finish corruption at the institution.
A State Safety Agency (SSA) investigation observed which the “prevalence” of alleged corruption and irregularities involving the NLC and its beneficiaries “provided ample motive” for publicity by the media.
The probe into supposed “information security breaches and sabotage of NLC functions” was carried out soon after then-NLC board chairperson Alfred Nevhutanda wrote into the SSA in December 2018 requesting it to research.
Here is
Nevhutanda’s letter,
an affidavit by currently suspended NLC company secretary Nompumelelo Nene supporting the ask for, and
the security agency’s “private” results and suggestions.
Nevhutanda requested the SSA to investigate the role of NLC employees while in the alleged leaking of data, and Nene, in her affidavit recognized certain media and stories that she claimed associated these leaks.
From the letter outlining its findings, the SSA advised the NLC that whilst preserving point out information was “a authorized critical targeted at preserving the sovereignty and integrity of your point out” this only placed on correctly categorized facts.
Although it didn't say so instantly, the SSA findings implied which the allegedly leaked data did not tumble into this group.
Noticeably, the SSA produced it crystal clear that the need to safeguard state details “doesn't prevent any specific from blowing the whistle on corruption or irregular or illegal activity”.
The SSA investigation observed that the NLC info involved in the alleged breach was “sensitive and privileged in mother nature, but not labeled in terms of the prescripts on the Bare minimum Information and facts Safety Requirements (Miss out on)”.
“The leakage from the suitable delicate official NLC data to your media won't pose a menace to nationwide security,” the SSA reported, incorporating the affect on the breaches was reputational.
The SSA report observed “no proof of a factual and incriminating nature towards any from the suspected NLC staff that can be discovered from the information and info interrogated”.
In addition it said that “the prevalence of alleged corruption and irregularities throughout the NLC and at its beneficiaries does offer enough motive to own these kinds of uncovered in the media”.
Conspiracy statements
In 2020, Nevhutanda explained to MPs throughout a session of Parliament’s trade, industry and Level of competition portfolio committee that there was “a conspiracy” through which info “stolen” through the NLC was despatched for the US, where by he claimed it was being marketed to fund a smear campaign versus the NLC.
He was repeating very similar claims he experienced previously designed in Parliament, which incorporated advert hominem attacks on GroundUp and this reporter but was thorough not to call either.
“I came below Within this August property past year and noted to honourable customers that specifics of our beneficiaries has been stolen and put in a single point out in the usa,” he explained to MPs.
“We termed over the Point out Protection Agency to come look into the matter because we've been finding stories that our data is generating revenue for media platforms and journalists,” he explained. “There has been talk, certainly from a single resource, a single media, that spoke A lot about proactive-funding,” Nevhutanda reported (referring to GroundUp), but did not tell MPs the SSA investigation were concluded Just about a yr earlier.
Proactive funding was at the center of the looting in the lottery. It aspect-stepped the normal grant process. The NLC could by itself identify a job to fund and appoint a non-financial gain organisation to supervise it.
Just after Nevhutanda very first explained to Parliament in 2018 that he had questioned the SSA to analyze the supposed breach, the South African National Editors Discussion board issued a statement saying that his remarks mirrored “an incredibly risky Angle where the media is becoming blamed with the NLC’s inherent challenges”.
“As an alternative to investigating why millions can't be accounted for, the NLC has in its place attempted to Forged doubt within the integrity in the journalists concerned and it has requested the SSA to investigate their sources.”
Proactive jobs created secret
Stability flaws recognized from the NLC grant funding method in the SSA’s investigation, seem to have been utilised as an excuse through the NLC to get rid of all proactive-funded initiatives from its central grants technique.
“In or about 21 December 2019, the classification of all pro-actively funding assignments was heightened to ‘mystery’ and initiatives ended up removed from the grant funding technique and maintained manually beneath the custody of [Tsietsi Maselwa] the NLC’s [then] Deputy Details Workplace, Government Manager Authorized in order to safeguard [the] details,” Nene said in her affidavit.
“There was many inner dialogue, with plenty of forwards and backwards, about what to do to plug the alleged leaks”, a source, who was within a senior situation with the NLC at some time, explained to GroundUp. “In the end, the decision was taken to get rid of each of the proactive initiatives from the process and Restrict usage of a handful of people today”.
Some in that handful of men and women ended up implicated in corruption.
Maselwa, who resigned through the NLC a number of a long time back, has become implicated in corruption involving lottery resources. He obtained R4.3-million from lottery cash allotted to make a library and museum complicated in Kuruman (see Taung Cultural Tunes and Arts Expo) which he made use of to construct a property in an upmarket gated growth in Pretoria. The residence is one of a number of compensated for with lottery resources that were frozen after the Asset Forfeiture Device acquired a preservation order in December 2022.
The politically-related Nevhutanda, who was appointed as the NLC board chairperson by previous President Jacob Zuma in 2009 and was near significant-ups while in the ANC leadership, previous NLC former Commissioner Thabang Mampane, and ex-Main working officer Phillemon Letwaba, have all been implicated while in the corruption which confused the NLC on their watch.
Also implicated are former board associates William Huma, who resigned following he was confronted with proof of how he experienced profited from corrupt lottery grants, and Muthuhadini Madzivhandila, that has since died.
Each time a new administration, such as the entire board and government, took over on the NLC in late 2022 and early 2023, they found out a “chaotic mess” within the documentation associated with proactive funding, much of which was paper-based mostly. Vital documents were missing. Information held for safekeeping by doc storage company Metrofile were signed out and never returned.
The NLC was ready to Recuperate copies of some ตรวจ หวย ผล สลากกินแบ่ง รัฐบาล งวด paperwork from its Mimecast e mail archiving process plus the laptops of their assistants and assistance staff.
Information reviews
In his one December 2018 letter, resolved to then SSA Minister Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba, Nevhutanda wrote: “The NLC has noted with grave worry attainable details stability breaches as well as the unauthorised use and/or dissemination of private info attained as a result of accomplishing official features in the Commission by NLC workforce. The routines are intended to undermine the integrity with the Fee while disrupting the efficient functions [of the NLC] and creating insurmountable reputational harm to the Fee given that the custodian of personal info entrusted to it by its beneficiaries.”
His ask for for that SSA to investigate was supported within an affidavit by suspended NLC firm secretary, Nomphumelelo Nene.
Nene is presently struggling with a disciplinary inquiry soon after she was unsuccessful in lawful action to set aside results of irregular expenditure on her watch.
The objective of her affidavit, Nene claimed, was “to file the occasions which transpired regarding facts stability breaches on the Nationwide Lotteries Fee”.
She detailed many information reports which she claimed had been the outcomes of these “breaches” (see at the conclusion of this short article).
Nene mentioned that a whistle-blower approached the NLC alleging that among its staff, Sello Qhino, experienced “delivered her labeled NLC Facts and persistently encouraged her to provide the knowledge to GroundUp”.
Qhino, who blew the whistle on the number of dodgy lottery-funded assignments in Kuruman soon after attempts to boost The difficulty internally have been disregarded, was subsequently fired.
Referring to an eighteen November 2018 report within the Each day Dispatch regarding the misappropriation of Lottery cash, Nene reported which the NLC discovered and after that suspended Zintle Rungqu. She was an employee within the NLC’s East London Business, who was the companion and also the mom of whistleblower Mzukise Makatse’s 3 young children.
Rungqu and Makatse feel Rungqu was punished since Makatse blew the whistle. She was suspended and billed internally, Along with the NLC expending R470,000 on attorneys to signify it, but was uncovered not guilty and permitted to return to operate.
“The frequent Think about these posts is the fact [they involve] categorized facts relating to proactive funding assignments,” Nene claimed in her affidavit.
When Runqu was suspended, Makatse moved out of the household dwelling to take the heat off her and his young children. Struggling with homelessness, he moved into an Business office within an empty manufacturing facility belonging to a pal.
Both equally Makatse and Qhino are participating in an NLC reparation system meant to recognise the hurt a lot of people endured with the fingers of the NLC. Apologies and, occasionally, economical payment are envisioned.
“Some people today ended up genuinely afflicted quite negatively by this … This is de facto painful,” NLC Commissioner Jodi Scholtz instructed the Day-to-day Maverick final calendar year.
“I fulfilled a handful of these men and women. It absolutely was just so coronary heart-wrenching that their whole lives are already turned the wrong way up,” claimed Scholtz.
Between Individuals she fulfilled have been Qhino and Makatse.
Risk-free platform necessary for whistleblowers
The SSA identified the absence at the time of an appropriate channel for whistleblowers to report corruption led them to turn on the media.
“Failure to have a focused anti-corruption channel will end in staff presenting this kind of conditions outside of the NLC,” the SSA claimed in its conclusions.
“Provided the magnitude of corruption in condition establishments, it continues to be vital that it makes sure that the NLC complies with all protection prescripts Which its aim is on ensuring that unlawful and irregular perform is sufficiently mitigated versus and by making sure an suitable channel for whistle-blowers to report untoward perform devoid of staying intimidated.”
It recommended which the NLC create a “Protected channel” for employees to deliver information on any “untoward exercise” that might not stop or discourage workforce from blowing the whistle. A whistle-blowers coverage, according to the Shielded Disclosures Act 25 of 2000, is usually a necessity.”
Media stories Nene outlined
A 10 December 2017 report from the Limpopo Mirror about corruption and maladministration involving the Lottery-funded Vhembe Wellness and Exercise Centre in Limpopo. GroundUp has labored intently with Anton van Zyl, an investigative reporter and owner in the Limpopo Mirror, to show NLC corruption. “The short article had things of information not readily available in the general public area, therefore elevating concern on internal Facts protection breaches. The allegations from the media were being independently investigated,” Nene said. “Even so, staff members responsible for divulging categorised facts have nevertheless to become determined”;
A 28 January 2018 report published via the Dally Dispatch “citing several allegations from the Limpopo Mirror short article published on 10 December 2017 and also a new allegation relating to a former worker because of the identify of Mzukisi Makatse. He was charged and summarily dismissed to the danger brought on on the organisation.”
A 16 November 2018 short article during the Lowvelder in regards to the misappropriation of NLC cash involving a lottery-funded drug rehabilitation centre. GroundUp has documented how, in spite of acquiring R27-million in lottery grants, the rehab has not been finished. “The Lowvelder posting contained labeled details when it comes to NLC plan, elevating additional problems of internal facts security breaches,” Nene explained in her affidavit. “The prima facie proof regarding these allegations didn't warrant an independent Investigation, on the other hand [it] highlighted the heightened details safety challenges throughout the NLC.”
A 22 November 2018 GroundUp expose a few dodgy R27.five-million grant to Denzhe Main Care, a hijacked NPO. Nene stated GroundUp had verified in its Tale that it had been based upon leaked NLC paperwork. This was despite the NLC rejecting a PAIA (Advertising of Use of Data) request for particulars in regards to the undertaking, she said