POLITICS

Lotto billions not being disbursed - DA

But Kobus Marais says, board members are still receiving millions in payments

Only 28% of lottery funds paid out while board members earn R7.5 million

A reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question has revealed that despite R8.5 billion being available to the South African Lottery Board for distribution to beneficiaries in the three years from 2007 to 2009, just R2.3 billion (or only 28%) was actually paid out. In stark contrast to this, over the same period, the six board members received a combined remuneration of R7.5 million.

It is quite clear from the reply that, while those individuals on the lottery board receive huge sums of money, the board is fundamentally failing to fulfil its mandate and distribute funds to those in need.

A copy of the full reply follows below.

Among other things the reply shows that:

  • In 2007: R2.1 billion was available for distribution but just R792 million (just 37%) was paid out;
  • In 2008: R2.9 billion was available but just R634 million (just 22%) was paid out; and
  • In 2009: R3.3 billion was available but just R948 million (just 28%) was paid out.

Over the same period, the total amount paid to individual members of the board was as follows:

  • 2007: R1.187 million
  • 2008: R4.562 million
  • 2009: R1.820 million

The six board members are:

  • Foster J.A.
  • Axten N.
  • Fakude-Nkuna N.
  • Makgothi H.
  • Thomas S.
  • Negota G.

I will now be submitting a series of parliamentary questions to the Minister of Trade and Industry to ask what criteria are used by his department to measure the performance of board members and those administrators responsible for ensuring that the Lottery functions properly, which quite clearly it is not doing at the moment. I will also be asking what action will be taken against those board members or administrators who fail to meet those criteria.

It is the responsibility of the board to ensure that the Lottery distributes monies available to it, to those in need. It is quite clearly failing to do this and those responsible for this failing, including the board members, now need to account for this failure and justify the salaries they earn. 

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

Question 49

Ms S P Kopane (DA) to ask the Minister of Trade and Industry:

(1)In each of the three most recent years for which information is available, how much money was (a) available during the year for distribution to (i) arts, culture and heritage, (ii) charity and (iii) sports organisations and (b) actually paid out by the National Lottery Distribution Trust;

(2)(a) who are the current members of the Board and (b) what amount was paid out (i) in total and (ii) to each board member in each of these years in salaries, stipends or any other specified allowances?

Response:

The details below reflect information for the last three consecutive years. 

1 (a) AVAILABLE (R'000) 

 

2007

2008

2009

Arts

598,366

837,764

949,806

Charities

961,659

1,346,407

1,526,474

Sport

470,144

658,243

746,276

Misc

106,851

149,601

169,608

Total

2,137,020

2,992,015

3,392,165

1 (b) PAID (R'000)

 

2007

2008

2009

Arts

82,322

96,398

168,481

Charities

409,435

326,568

480,878

Sport

291,832

211,207

298,269

Misc

9,000

-

950

Total

792,589

634,173

948,578

2 (a) BOARD MEMBERS

Foster JA

Axten N

Fakude-Nkuna N

Makgothi H

Thomas S

Negota G

2 (b) (i) TOTAL EMOLUMENTS (R'000)

2007

1,187

2008

4,562

2009

1,820

2 (b) (ii) INDIVIDUAL EMOLUMENTS (R'000) 

Foster JA

2007

2008

2009

Basic Salary

587

660

750

Home owner allowance

13

19

28

Annual bonus

56

50

55

Travel allowance

186

182

182

Medical Aid

19

21

25

Pension Fund

82

82

92

Entertainment Allowance

2

2

2

Out of office allowance

-

-

12

Total

945

1,016

1,146

2007 (R'000)

 

Meeting attendance

Reimbursive expenses

Total

Axten N

57

6

63

Fakude-Nkuna N

65

-

65

Makgothi H

27

-

27

Thomas S

66

5

71

Negota G

16

-

16

Total

231

11

242

2008 (R'000)

 

License evaluation

Meeting attendance

Reimbursive expenses

Total

Axten N

444

26

4

474

Fakude-Nkuna N

385

81

-

466

Makgothi H

202

23

2

227

Thomas S

528

15

-

543

Negota G

-

13

3

16

Total

1559

158

9

1726

2009 (R'000)

 

Retrospective hourly rate change adj.

Meeting attendance

Out of office allowance

Total

Axten N

72

36

-

108

Fakude-Nkuna N

123

65

22

210

Makgothi H

87

47

22

156

Thomas S

73

60

-

133

Negota G

23

10

22

55

Total

378

218

66

662

Statement issued by Kobus Marais MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister for trade and industry, June 22 2009

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