DA calls for parliamentary debate on Lotto licence

By Tarryn Le Chat
01 April 2007

The Democratic Alliance has spoken out against Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mphahlwa.

They say that he has no idea how to lead his department out of the Lotto licencing dileman following the Pretoria High Court’s reversal of the Miniter’s decision to award the licence to the Gidani consortium.

The opposition party says the announcement by the Minister to suspend the national lottery for at least a month has come as no surprise according to their statement.

Dr Pierre Rabie, DA member of Parliament says, “The unprecedented mess that followed Judge Wille Seriti’s decision results directly from Mphahlwa’s neglect of his duties, lack of leadership and the stubbornly dysfunctional National Lotteries Board’s inefficiency.”

Rabie says the minister must now prove that there is a plan in place to guarantee the speedy awarding of the Lotto licence so that dependents of the lotto do not suffer.

According to their statement, the DA will call for a parliamentary debate on the matter.