for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Nompumelelo Nene, suspended company secretary of the National Lotteries Commission, resigned after pocketing nearly R6 million. Her exit ends a two-year suspension with full pay, shadowed by 145 corruption-related disciplinary charges.
She stepped down on February 28 as her legal efforts to block a hearing unraveled. The NLC labels it a dodge to escape looming consequences.
A Scandal Unfolds
Nene’s troubles erupted in November 2022 when NLC probes uncovered financial misconduct, prompting her suspension. She allegedly ordered the deletion of grant records to conceal widespread fund looting.
While on ice, she earned close to R6 million, igniting public fury over the payout. GroundUp linked her to cover-ups of ghost projects worth millions. Investigators say she greenlit payments for nonexistent initiatives, siphoning cash for community upliftment.
Legal Defeat and Resignation
Nene fought hard to sidestep accountability, filing repeated court bids to stall her disciplinary process. In March 2024, Judge Stuart Wilson tossed her latest plea, slamming it as baseless and costly.
He charged her with punitive fees, noting that her advocate status made her actions indefensible. With the hearing nearing, Nene quit, leaving the NLC to regroup. Her resignation came days after the ruling, a move insiders call pure self-preservation.
Corruption’s Deep Roots
The NLC accuses Nene of shielding corruption, like a R24.7 million payment to Sunday World for questionable ads. She allegedly steered contracts to allies, including Mabotle Mokwebo, whose family cashed in big.
Neo Solutions scored R26 million, while a sham R1.7 million Women’s Day event padded the allegations. Her affidavit once backed probing leaks exposing graft, not the graft itself. Emails uncovered by auditors show her directing staff to obscure financial trails, deepening the mess.
Public and Official Backlash
South Africans are enraged, with X posts demanding Nene repay the R6 million she pocketed while suspended. “Freeze her accounts,” one user raged, summing up a tidal wave of anger.
The NLC rejected her unfair dismissal claim, insisting she bolted to avoid a guilty verdict. Commissioner Jodi Scholtz, in office since 2023, vows to recover funds and rebuild credibility. Scholtz called Nene’s haul “a slap to honest taxpayers,” fueling her cleanup drive.
A Broader Cleanup Effort
Nene’s case fits a larger reckoning, with 16 NLC officials quitting since forensic audits exposed rot. The Special Investigating Unit is chasing R300 million in pilfered grants spent on luxuries.
Other suspended staff, like legal manager Gugulethu Yako, raked millions during probes. Scholtz is rolling out stricter rules to plug leaks and speed investigations. She said that a new vetting system for grant approvals aims to stop future theft.
What’s Next?
Nene’s resignation may not end her saga, she faces a Pretoria High Court fight over the Auditor-General findings. Those reports flagged her for unauthorized media and audit spending from 2019–2021.
The NLC is pushing to reclaim funds, with criminal charges possible for her and other culprits. Public pressure is mounting, keeping her R6 million haul in the crosshairs. For now, she’s out, but the lottery’s tarnished reputation demands more than one exit to heal.
Source: E-play AFRICA
