Lottery

Time to Take on the Lotto
If you are a charity or NGO who feels that you have been treated unreasonably or unfairly by the Lotto, and you are willing to take them on, Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc., a firm of attorneys, is willing to assist you.

Lourens Ackermann, Pro Bono Coordinator at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc., is currently investigating the possibility of pursuing individual applications against the Lotto on behalf of deserving charities and NGOs.

In order for him to take on your case, you must e-mail or fax him proof of the Lotto's unreasonable behaviour. This would usually include a letter from the Lotto to say why your funding was denied, with an explanation from you as to why their decision is unreasonable, or if you have had funding approved, proof that there has been an unreasonable delay in paying out.

Information should be submitted to lackermann@ens.co.za or fax: 021 410 2555.

Please note that you must be prepared to take the matter all the way to Court if necessary, although the matter will be resolved without litigation if it is possible to do so.

Lourens Ackermann
Pro Bono Coordinator
Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs
Tel: 021 410 2500
Fax: 021 410 2555
www.problemsolved.co.za
Related articles:

Lottery Funding and the NGO Sector

Shame on Lotto

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Nominations Invited for Lottery Board Members
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, invites nominations for the appointment of National Lotteries Board (NLB) members, in terms of Section 3 of the Lotteries Act, No. 57 of 1997.

In view of ongoing criticism of the performance of the current NLB, this is an important opportunity for all concerned NGO and development stakeholders to influence the future actions of the Board.

The closing date for nominations is 8 July 2009. Written nominations will be scrutinised according to various criteria, including a comprehensive CV, written declaration of interests, security clearance (preferred candidates) and representivity in terms of affirmative action criteria.

Candidates who were nominated or submitted their applications in 2008 should not resubmit.

For more information about the "Call for Nominations for the Appointment of NLB Members", click here.

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Lottery Funding and the NGO Sector
- donors
- funding
- Fundraising
- Lottery
- Lotto
- Poverty
Concerns about delays in the distribution of lottery funding to NGOs are once again in the news. With many NGOs already taking financial strain or having to respond to ever-increasing demands for services as a result of the economic crisis, serious questions have to be raised about the ongoing inefficiencies at the National Lottery.

The six members of the National Lottery Board each earned at least R1.2 million during the past year, while available funding was not disbursed. In the 2008/9 financial year, only R948 million of an available R3.3 billion was disbursed, in the 2007/8 financial year only R634 million of R2.9 billion was disbursed and in the 2006/7 financial year, only R792 million of R2.1billion.

At the same, more than 500 000 needy South Africans, many of them women and children, could be plunged into further desperation as many South African NGOs face a funding crisis.A recent Sunday Times article revealed that NGOs, which represent 30% of social services in the country, would have R3 billion less to spend on crucial development issues this year because of the recession.

As every sector of the South Africa economy is feeling the impact of the global financial crisis, and various measures are being considered to support the economy in this challenging time, why is the government or specialised agencies geared towards the work of the NGO sector, such as the Lottery, not considering special funding arrangements for NGOs?

If you would like to comment on your experience with the National Lottery and/or would like to share other relevant articles in this regard with NGO Pulse readers, please forward your comments and contributions to info@sangonet.org.za.

SANGONeT will highlight the feedback on the NGO Pulse portal and in the weekly NGO Pulse e-newsletter.

The following articles capture some of the concerns raised in recent weeks regarding lottery funding:

DTI slams Lotto head’s claims

Lotto board members fail charities

Lotta zeros but no cash - Board fails to pay billions

Little charity from Lotto

Free Lotto help for charities – DA

Change to lotto funding rules

Lotto red tape thwarts charities

Shame on Lotto

Time to Take on the Lotto