The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition has been accused by the EFF of illegally giving the Gold Rush Consortium the national lottery operating licence.
On Tuesday, the party, represented by England Slabbert Attorneys, demanded that Parks Tau, the Minister of Trade and Industry, provide an urgent written confirmation that the consortium would not receive any award.
Angelike Charalambous signed the letter after the EFF sent a previous message last week, to which Tau’s office has not replied.
“We refer to the above matter and correspondence sent by our client to your offices dated 14 May 2025,” reads the letter in part.
“We have been requested by our client to address this correspondence to you and to follow up regarding our client’s correspondence referred to hereinabove and in respect of which you have failed to respond.”
The letter makes reference to the correspondence between the EFF and the parliamentary portfolio committee on trade, industry, and competition, which is included in annexe A and B.
According to Charalambous, the committee’s answer backs up the EFF’s stance, especially with regard to Lotteries Act section 13(2)(b).
The EFF said that giving the licence to the Gold Rush Consortium “will, as a direct consequence, be unlawful”.
EFF wants response by Wednesday
By not addressing the EFF’s concerns, Tau might be trying to get around section 13(2)(b) and gain an advantage by awarding the tender in an opaque way, according to the legal team.
Additionally, the legal team speculates that this might be a calculated move to gain an advantage in court.
“Lastly, we advise that in the event it becomes evident that your answer, non-answer, or decision to award the tender, as the case may be, justifies urgent litigation, then we reserve our client’s rights to place this correspondence and any replies thereto, as the case may be, before the court.
“This would include, for the purpose of seeking personal and punitive costs against any public official found to be acting contrary to the letter and spirit of the act.
“The public purse should not be prejudiced because of this clearly unlawful conduct which the minister and department have refused to categorically deny and rule out,” reads the letter in part.
The department has one week to reply to the initial letter, but the EFF’s lawyers are requesting a written response by Wednesday’s close of business.
