Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says Deputy President Paul Mashatile has no direct or indirect financial interest in Sizekhaya Holdings, a consortium that won the multibillion-rand licence to operate South Africas national lottery for the next eight years.
Tau awarded Sizekhaya the licence in May this year. AmaBhungane later reported that one of the consortiums shareholders is Bellamont Gaming, whose co-owners and co-directors are Advocate Khutso Bogatsu and KwaZulu-Natal businessman Moses Tembe .
Bogatsu is twin sister to Mashatiles spouse Humile, while Tembe, who is reportedly linked to the African National Congress ANC, is allegedly close to the Deputy President. Businessman Sandile Zungu, who is reportedly also ANC-linked, is also part of the consortium.