Deputy President Paul Mashatile Defends Friendships Amid Lottery Licence Controversy

What Sparked the Debate?

During a recent question‑and‑answer session in the National Assembly, DA MP Baxolile Nodada raised concerns that people close to Deputy President Paul Mashatile may have benefited from the awarding of the R180 billion national lottery licence. The issue was first brought up by Build One South Africa (BOSA) MP Nobuntu Hlazo‑Webster, who pointed to possible conflicts of interest.

Why the Licence Matters

The national lottery licence is a huge contract worth billions of rand. It allows the winning company to run South Africa’s official lottery games for a set period. Because the licence involves so much money, the government must follow strict rules to avoid favouritism or corruption.

Constitutional Rule at Play

Section 96 of the Constitution says that Cabinet members—including the Deputy President—must not put themselves in a situation where their private interests could clash with their official duties. Hlazo‑Webster argued that the alleged links between Mashatile’s associates and the lottery bidder could break this rule.

Mashatile’s Response

Pointing to an Ongoing Investigation

Mashatile said the matter is already under review by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau. Tau delayed the final appointment of the lottery operator to look into the allegations, and Mashatile claimed the investigation is almost finished.

“So you don’t need another investigation… It’s almost a year. If you recall, the people were supposed to be appointed to this licence last year in June. We are almost in the new year, June. So for the previous year, there was an investigation.”

Defending Long‑time Friendships

The Deputy President stressed that many of the businesspeople mentioned are friends he has known for decades—some even from his struggle days.

• “Some of them have been my friends for more than 20 or 30 years.”
• “When I went into politics, they went into business.”
• “I will not distance myself from friends simply because they have become successful businesspeople.”

Denying Any Influence

Mashatile insisted he never uses his position to steer contracts toward his friends.

“What I will not do is go to a department of government and say, ‘Give my friend the business.’ That I will not do because I’ve never done that.”

He also said the individuals involved are reputable businesspeople and that no evidence of illegal activity has been shown.

The Specific Links Mentioned

Bellamont Gaming and Sizekhaya Holdings

Reports show that one of the shareholders in the winning consortium, Sizekhaya Holdings, is Bellamont Gaming. Bellamont is co‑owned by Khumo Bogatsu—believed to be the twin sister of Mashatile’s wife, Humile Mashatile—and KwaZulu‑Natal businessman Moses Tembe, who chairs Sizekhaya.

Bellamont Gaming was registered in December 2023, shortly after Mashatile’s lavish wedding. Sizekhaya was registered just days before the February 2024 bidding deadline.

Minister Tau’s Role

Minister Parks Tau announced Sizekhaya as the successful bidder on May 28 2024 after evaluating eight applications. The National Lotteries Commission, which reports to Tau, helped assess the bids. The previous operator, Ithuba Holdings, reported a turnover of R7.28 billion in 2024.

Nodada’s Counter‑points

During a follow‑up question, Nodada clarified that nobody expects Mashatile to abandon his friends. He argued, however, that some of those associates have faced serious criminal allegations, and he found it suspicious that a person who attended the State of the Nation Address with Mashatile later won the multibillion‑rand lottery contract.

Nodada also questioned Mashatile’s lifestyle, claiming the Deputy President lives in a R70 million mansion that seems beyond the means of his relatives.

Mashatile’s Final Remarks

Mashatile rejected the idea that wealth among Black South Africans automatically implies wrongdoing.

“Don’t have a problem when black people become wealthy because that’s what I sense… When black people become wealthy, oh yeah, they must have stolen somewhere… It’s even shameful if it’s said by a black man like yourself.”

He invited anyone with concrete evidence of misconduct to report it to the police and reiterated that he would continue to welcome his long‑time friends to parliamentary events.

Conclusion

The controversy over the R180 billion national lottery licence highlights the tension between personal relationships and public office. Deputy President Paul Mashatile maintains that his friendships are genuine and that he has never used his influence to benefit them. Meanwhile, opposition MPs call for greater transparency and insist that any possible conflict of interest must be examined thoroughly. As the investigation by Minister Tau nears its end, the public will watch closely to see whether the process stands up to scrutiny—and whether the line between friendship and favouritism remains clear.