The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed that on Tuesday morning, the National Lottery Commission’s offices in Pretoria were raided.
SIU raid at National Lottery: What did they take?
As reported by eNCA, approximately 12 armed SIU officers, assisted by members of the Hawks, made their way into the Lottery’s offices at around 07:00.
According to a statement released by the SIU, the search and seizure operation was necessitated by the need to comb the building for every single document and electronic device.
While no arrests were made, the seizure of documents and computers will aid authorities in building a case against the lotteries commission.
From what we understand, the NLC has been under the microscope of a task team that was enlisted with the mandate of probing “alleged corruption and maladministration involving the NLC.”
This came months after the commission and its head Professor Alfred Nevhutanda were hit with allegations of tender irregularities dating back to January 2014.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa signed Proclamation R32 of 2020, which was published in Gov. Gazette last month, authorising the #SIU to probe alleged corruption and maladministration involving the NLC.
“The proclamation covers offences which took place between 1 January 2014 and the date of publication of the Proclamation, or which took place prior to 1 January 2014,” the SIU said in a statement.
Does this have anything to do with the freak PowerBall results?
News of the raid comes a week after more than R113 million was paid to 20 unknown winners who had, coincidentally, guessed the freak PowerBall results of last Tuesday’s draw.
In numerical order, the winning numbers were; 05. 06, 07, 08, 09 and the PowerBall was 10.
A freak incident of this nature has never been witnessed before and many believed there was a lot more to it than meets the eye. Especially, considering the NLC’s ties with alleged corruption and maladministration.
It’s not known, at this time, if this is also being looked into.