South African NLC adds new names to shortlist as Chair appointment process revitalised

South African National Lotteries Commission
Image: Shutterstock

The process to appoint a new Chairperson for South Africa’s National Lottery Commission has regained momentum, according to GroundUp.

The road to an appointment has been a long and winding one, dating back to 2020, with concerns previously emanating around the legality of the process being followed and disputes between Ebrahim Patel, Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition, and the NLC.

But there has now been progress in the hunt for Alfred Nevhutanda’s successor, 18 months after the process began to replace the scandal-ridden figure who held his post for 11 years.

Parliament’s Trade, Industry and Competition Portfolio Committee voted to submit a new list of candidates to Parliament to debate, with the names sent to Patel for selection.

Two names have remained from the previous list – human rights lawyer Barney Pityana and former Deputy-Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission Terry Tselane. Former NLC board member Muthuhadini Madzivhandila, who was previously shortlisted, has since died.

The two new names on the list are Themba Dlamini, a former CEO of the Public Protector, and Reverend Frank Chikane. Dlamini scored second-highest when candidates were originally interviewed.

Meanwhile, in March, Patel appointed four new board members on a one-year contract, with a brief to root out corruption at the NLC.