Charities demand to know where Lotto money is going
Non-profit organisations are demanding that grants made by the National Lotteries Board during the past three years be subjected to a forensic audit and that board members be subjected to a lifestyle audit.
The demands are contained in a memorandum, which is due to be handed over when representatives of non-profit organisations are expected to march on the NLB offices on January 27.
Lottery spokesman Sershan Naidoo confirmed that they had received notification of the planned march.
In the memorandum the organisations ask that grants in excess of R5 million be fully disclosed to the public, and that applications for grants can be submitted all year round, instead of once a year.
They call for the NLB to reduce the turnaround time for applications, including grant payments, to a maximum of 120 days.
Naidoo said: “We understand it is difficult for these charities.”
He said the NLB only had R800 million available for distribution to charities and that the number of charities seeking grants had risen from an average of 4,000 a year to 8,000 in 2011.
He said Lotto ticket sales had not kept pace with the demand from charities. Additionally, new government regulations stipulated that 50% of funding must go to charities in rural areas.
“We are there to help, but unfortunately we are not responsible for fundraising.”
March organiser Sandra Millar, who also specialises in helping charities raise funds, said the frustration was not over the amount of money available, but rather over how it was distributed and, on occasion, to whom.
“It’s about the abuse of power at the National Lotteries Board, the corruption, nepotism, and very questionable decisions regarding funding and the recipients.”
She pointed to funding given to the National Youth Development Agency for the World Youth Festival — subsequently labelled the "kissing fest" after reports of delegates kissing, instead of doing work, were published. A public outcry followed news that the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund had provided R40 million for the festival held in December 2010 within a very short time, while many charities waited for years for significantly less money.
She said there were questions over R51 million in funding for an organisation called Makhaya, “an events company which operates mainly in Eastern Europe and the fund-raiser happens to be the daughter of the chairman of the NLB”.
Christine Delport, the chief executive of the Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation (GRCF), said she did not believe the board had the capacity to assess applications for funding.
“They tie you down in a contract to a time frame, but they don’t pay according to that time frame.”
She said the GRCF had four applications pending for funding. Two of those date prior to 2010. The GRCF had only received a response to one of the applications.
Sheila Gastrow, the chief executive of non-profit organisation Inyathelo — the SA Institute for Advancement — said the problem that had raised the ire of the non-profit sector was the haphazard manner in which funds were allocated.
“There is not much logic in the way funds are made available.”
She said one year a charity could receive funding, but the following year there would be none.
She also criticised some of the bigger grants made by the NLB, including the R51 million to Makhaya.
In a column that appeared in the City Press newspaper last year she also questioned the R58 million grant given to an organisation called Impucuzeko to make a film called Iqili, which means “The Crafty One”.
Naidoo said organisations needed to plan properly when applying for grants and that each grant was considered on its merits.
“We are open to interaction with these organisations, but each grant has to be considered case by case,” he said.
CheeseBoy
What a dumb question indeed.its like coming into your home finding the tv and furniture missing then asking who stole your stuff. its obvious thieves stole it.
the lotto is/has always been a cash cow for greedy politicians milking the hell out of poor and gullible people (who constitute majority of lotto players by the way) trying to change their lives through this charade of a gamble.
the ANCYL is a close example who where mysteriously awarded 40 million from the lotto coffers some months ago for some event.
I don't play the lotto. I am always skeptical about the so called "winners"
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Shredder
Is this Lotto thing for real? Do people really win Millions of rands or is it just a came to milk people off their money?Report Abuse
MORNACHIES
I guit LOTTO before was even established in this country .i don't believe in thisscam at all .
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@Nevus---Sure di bra ?????
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MommaC
Well the Lotto board seem to believe that 'charity begins at home'. They don't do charity unless it is for themselves.I will not participate by buying one ticket from these tsotsis
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SKIZOBANTWANA
Since the passing away of MR HUMPHREY KHOZA, this NLB is full of irregularittiesReport Abuse
Mopedi_Thwiii
F*ck Gidani and bring back Uthingo, Gidani lowered the Jackpot money to 1mil minimum where with Uthingo it was 3mil minimum.... We dont have time to queue for peanutsReport Abuse
