National Lottery Commission Offices Raided by Special Investigating Unit

Special Investigating Unit investigators on Tuesday morning pounced on the National Lottery Commission (NLC) offices in Pretoria, South Africa, as it probes alleged maladministration at the agency.

The swoop comes after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Monday secured a search and seizure warrant from a local magistrate court as part of its investigation into NLC operations.

Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation, published in the Government Gazette, authorising the SIU to probe alleged corruption and maladministration involving the NLC.

“The proclamation covers offences which took place between 1 January 2014 and the date of publication of the Proclamation, or which took place prior to 1 January 2014,” said the SIU in a statement.

The SIU has been authorised to investigate a raft of alleged misdemeanours.

These range from serious maladministration in connection with the affairs of the NLC (such as the recent mystery of a R5.5-million lottery grant that allegedly never reached the official beneficiary), unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property as well as improper or unlawful conduct by employees or officials of the NLC. Much of this has been uncovered and reported on by Ground Up.

The proclamation states that the SIU would also investigate alleged unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive acts, transactions, measures or practices having a bearing upon state property. Intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property will also form part of the investigation. – SAnews.gov.za