Lotto CEO caught up in scandal: More millions allegedly paid to family
- A recent report claims that the National Lotteries Commission has been caught up in some drama
- Leaked bank statements showed how R2 million was paid to a private company owned by a relative of the entity's CEO
- A non-profit organisation was allegedly used to funnel the funds with no sign of it going towards its intended use
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The National Lotteries Commission has been caught up in a scandal after allegations of financial shenanigans.
The Citizen reports that a R11 million grant was paid over to a non-profit organisation, I Am Made for God's Glory, but R2 million was paid to a private company.
The sole director of Upbrand Properties is Kenneth Sithole, the cousin of NLC CEO Phillemon Letwaba.
But this is not the first time allegations of this nature have been levied against Upbrand. GroundUp previously accused the company of receiving a R15 million contract to build a rehab centre near Pretoria.
Letwaba's brother Johannes had been a director of the company at the time but later resigned, leaving Keneilwa Maboa as the sole director.
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Following Moboa's resignation just over a year later, Kenneth Sithole took over the reins, only to be implicated in dodgy dealings.
The report indicates that the bank account of the non-profit organisation had lain dormant until just before the Lotto funds were paid over.
Before the R11 million was paid over, only R190.55 was available, according to the leaked document.
The funding application submitted to the NLC noted that lawyer Lesley Ramulifho as the NGO's chair and Karabo Sithole as its secretary.
To put it simply, NLC CEO Phillemon Letwaba allegedly signed a grant agreement allowing for millions to be paid over to entities led by his relatives.
The funding had been meant to 'provide infrastructure in order to advance sport, recreation and physical activity' across South Africa but GroundUp claims there is no evidence of this coming to pass.
Briefly.co.za gathered that none of those implicated by the allegations have responded to probes for comment.
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Source: Briefly News
