ITHUBA has welcomed the High Court’s November 2, 2026, ruling setting aside the decision to award the Fourth National Lottery and Sports Pools License to Sizekhaya Holdings.

The Court also declared the license agreement invalid and referred the award back to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition for reconsideration. It directed the Minister to make a fresh decision without relying on the Ministerial Committee’s report and recommendations.

ITHUBA said the judgment was an important moment for accountability, transparency and the integrity of South Africa’s National Lottery.

The company has consistently argued that appointing a National Lottery operator must be fair, transparent and compliant with the applicable legal and regulatory framework.

ITHUBA said it has spent more than a decade building a National Lottery that serves South Africans, supports good causes and delivers value to communities.

It said its commitment to protecting the Lottery’s integrity and serving its players remains unchanged. The company is reviewing the judgment with its legal representatives and said it will provide further updates in due course.