National Lottery Board Reassures Charities

July 7 - We reported on National Lottery board payment issues a month ago on Gambling SA, and now following several months of confusion, several charities in South Africa have confirmed that they have received payment due to them by the National Lottery.

According to the National Lottery Board, the donation of funds to good causes was 'on track'. A final report will be submitted to parliament next month, outlying the organization's distribution trust fund for 2007/2008.

Charities are reporting that funds started coming in after a meeting between the National Lottery board, members of the Democratic Alliance and the department of trade and industry. Concerns were raised at the meeting amidst complaints by major charities that they might need to cut back on staff and curb their operations if the promised money from the Lotto was not forthcoming.

Since the meeting, the Catholic Health Care Association of South Africa has confirmed that it has received the money that was due to it by the National Lottery and this would enable the organization to continue its work, dealing mainly with the care of orphans and the elderly in the country.

The Lotto recently switched operators from Uthingo to the current Gidani, leaving it out of operation for around six months. However, according to a lottery board spokesman, the changeover did not affect charitable fund distributions, as the monies were allocated last year already.

All in all R800 million was paid out in 2006/2007 - R117 million to sports, R235 million to the arts and the rest - around R430 - to charities.

Uthingo allocated 22% of lottery ticket sales for what it deemed 'good causes', while Gidani has already upped that number to 34%.

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