Pretoria - Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies is confident that current lottery operator, Ithuba, will invigorate the country’s national lottery following a High Court decision that dismissed with costs former lottery operator Gidani’s leave to appeal.
This, as the High Court, in Pretoria on Tuesday, refused with costs the application by Gidani (Pty) Ltd for leave to appeal against the judgment of Justice Mothle, which was handed down on 13 May 2016.
Gidani’s application for leave to appeal comes in a long line of challenges against the decision by Minister Davies to award the third national lottery licence to the current operator, Ithuba (Pty) Ltd.
“The Minister is confident that now that the process has been finalised, Ithuba will continue with its plans to operate and invigorate the national lottery and ensure continued contributions to good causes,” said the Department of Trade and Industry (dti).
In November 2014, Minister Davies awarded the third lottery license to Ithuba after which Gidani launched an urgent application to prevent the conclusion of a licence agreement with Ithuba and the implementation of the licence agreement.
The former licence operator has brought several applications before the courts over the years with a second review application being argued before Mothle in February.
In June, Gidani brought another application for leave to appeal the judgement which was argued in July 2016.
On Tuesday, Judge Mothle also refused Gidani’s application for leave to appeal.
In his judgment, Judge Mothle stated, amongst other things, that he was not persuaded that Gidani’s envisaged appeal would have a reasonable prospect of success nor was he persuaded that there are any compelling reasons why the appeal should be heard.
The court also stated that it could not find anything irrational with the Minister’s decision in awarding the licence to Ithuba. – SAnews.gov.za
