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| 1/20/2003 |
Response to Citizen : " LOTTA LOTTO WORMS" |
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The Editor The Citizen P O Box 43069 INDUSTRIA 2042 Fax: 011-248 621320 January 2003
Dear Sir
RE: LOTTA LOTTO WORMS
Mr. Gordon Smith’s letter in your publication this morning has reference.
We would like to assure Mr. Smith and your readers that the Lotto draw is live and has always been conducted in terms of the strict conditions in the Licence to Operate the National Lottery.
Since the inception of Lotto, all draws have been broadcast live. The draw is conducted in the presence of independent auditors. The National Lotteries Board also conducts random, spot checks for compliance at draws.
Uthingo Management operates the National Lottery under licence, which lays down strict procedures as to how the draw must be held. Should Uthingo wilfully contravene the Draw Rules, they would be liable to a fine running into millions of rands. Contravention of the Licence could also result in the Licence being revoked.
The National Lotteries Board, as Regulator, closely monitors every draw to ensure that all procedures are complied with. PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the independent auditor, also submits detailed reports on compliance after each draw.
With regards the draw in question, 31 December 2003, we are satisfied that the draw was compliant with the Licence and that the non-synchronisation of the audio and visual transmission was a technical fault, as admitted by both e-tv and Sentech.
The public can rest assured that Mr. Khoza’s resignation, as CEO of Uthingo Management, has nothing to do with transmission of the draw on 31 December 2003.
Yours faithfully NATIONAL LOTTERIES BOARD
Joe Foster Chairperson |
