In late May 2025, after months of legal wrangling and political tension, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, announced that Sizekhaya Holdings would be the next operator of the National Lottery. The news was significant for several reasons, but perhaps most of all because of the company behind the scenes: Goldrush Gaming Group. For the next eight years, Goldrush—through its 50% stake in Sizekhaya—will be at the heart of the country’s lottery system, a position that comes with both opportunity and scrutiny.
The Announcement and the Legal Backdrop
The process leading up to the announcement was anything but smooth. The Pretoria High Court, presided over by Judge Sulet Potterill, had ordered Tau to name the winning bidder by May 28, after a drawn-out evaluation process involving eight applicants. The court also declared the minister’s earlier decision to issue a temporary licence as unconstitutional, but, in a move to prevent a halt in lottery ticket sales, suspended the order for five months. This allowed for a temporary licence to be awarded to Ithuba Lottery, a sister company of the outgoing operator, Ithuba Holdings.
Tau’s announcement, made on the court-ordered date, was accompanied by a statement that he would seek legal advice to appeal the court’s findings. The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) also launched an urgent application to amend a Johannesburg High Court order that limited the temporary licence to five months, arguing that a longer period was needed to ensure continuity and financial viability.
The legal disputes didn’t end there. Wina Njalo, one of the losing bidders, accused the minister of favouring Ithuba by delaying the announcement and structuring the temporary licence in a way that only Ithuba could qualify. Parliamentarians from the EFF and Build One South Africa raised questions about the transparency of the process, and the DA’s Toby Chance criticised the delays, warning that the uncertainty threatened the entire operation of the Lotto.
Who Is Sizekhaya Holdings?
Sizekhaya Holdings is a consortium led by KwaZulu-Natal businessmen Moses Tembe and Sandile Zungu, both of whom have deep roots in the province’s business and political circles. Tembe, who chairs the KZN Growth Coalition, has built a diverse business empire through the Bellamont Group, with interests in property, industrial holdings, energy, mining, gaming, and asset management. Zungu, owner of AmaZulu Football Club and founder of Zico Investments, is similarly well-connected, with a portfolio spanning education, manufacturing, property, sport, forensics, and gaming.
But the real operational muscle behind Sizekhaya is Goldrush Gaming Group, which owns half the consortium. Goldrush is not just another gambling company. Over the past two decades, it has quietly built one of the most extensive and diversified gaming operations in South Africa, with a reach that now extends into the heart of the country’s lottery system.
Goldrush: From Bingo Halls to National Lottery
Goldrush’s story begins in 1998, when it received its first bingo licences in Gauteng and opened South Africa’s first licensed bingo hall. At the time, the country’s gambling landscape was still taking shape, and Goldrush was one of the early movers. Over the years, the company expanded its footprint, securing licences in all nine provinces—a regulatory achievement that few others can claim.
Today, Goldrush operates 27 licensed bingo venues across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, North-West, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo. Its presence is felt in both urban centres and smaller towns, with branches in places like Ballito, Bela-Bela, Bushbuckridge, Chatsworth, Cresta, The Dome, Durban, Ermelo, Groblersdal, Hebron, Hillcrest, Kolonnade, Ladysmith, Mall@Reds, Malvern, Middelburg, Morula, Newmarket, Phalaborwa, Phoenix, Pietermaritzburg, Potchefstroom, Richards Bay, Rustenburg, Sanridge, Scottburgh, Stanger, Vaal, and Wonderpark.
But bingo is just one part of the story. Goldrush’s operations now span almost every form of legal gambling in South Africa: limited payout machines (LPMs), online casino, sportsbooks, crash games, esports, and route operations in taverns and pubs. The company’s online platform, goldrush.co.za, is regulated by seven provincial gambling boards and offers games from more than ten global providers, including Pragmatic Play, Yggdrasil, NETENT, Red Tiger, Booming Games, and EGT.
Goldrush’s reach isn’t limited to South Africa. The company holds national licensing rights in Lesotho, where it operates LPMs, and has plans to expand into Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Botswana. Canada and Latin America are also on the radar, reflecting a strategy that looks beyond the country’s borders.
The Lottery Licence
The National Lottery is a major institution in South Africa, with millions of tickets sold each week and billions of rands distributed to social causes through the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). For the past decade, the lottery has been operated by Ithuba Holdings, but its licence expires on May 31, 2026. Due to the delays and legal challenges, a temporary licence has been awarded to Ithuba Lottery for up to a year, after which Sizekhaya Holdings is expected to take over for an eight-year term.
The transition is not just a change of operator. Sizekhaya’s bid was built on a partnership with Genlot, a Chinese lottery technology provider with operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Brazil, and Jamaica. Genlot claims a 19% global market share, and its involvement means that South Africa’s lottery infrastructure will be aligned with systems used by millions of players worldwide.
Unlike Ithuba, which inherited much of its infrastructure, Sizekhaya and Goldrush will have to build the lottery’s systems from scratch. This includes distribution technology, ticket machines, point-of-sale integration, and staffing. The scale of the task is significant, and the group’s ability to deliver will be closely watched.
Goldrush’s Corporate Structure
Goldrush Gaming Group is majority owned by Goldrush Holdings Ltd, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the ticker GRSP. The holding company, formerly known as RECM and Calibre (RAC), rebranded in 2024 to reflect its flagship asset. Goldrush Holdings owns 59.4% of Goldrush Gaming Group, making it the single most influential shareholder.
The group employs over 2,000 people across its divisions, from call center agents to bingo floor managers, game designers, and sportsbook traders. Its market capitalisation exceeds R2 billion, placing it among the largest JSE-listed companies focused solely on gaming and entertainment.
Goldrush’s business model is lean. The holding company itself has no direct employees; all operations are executed through subsidiaries. This structure keeps costs low and allows for flexible investment.
Technology, Payments, and Player Experience
Goldrush has invested heavily in technology, both in its physical venues and online. Its online casino supports seven provincial licences and offers 20-minute average withdrawals, a significant improvement over the 24–48 hour standard in the industry. The platform is built for local currency, eliminating the need for exchange fees or international transfer delays, and even accepts American Express—a rarity in South African gambling.
The company’s sportsbook features advanced betting tools like Cash Out, Bet Builder, Multi Bet Boost, and Boosted Odds. Players can bet on everything from sports to politics, pop culture, and even space missions. The “Special Bets” category mirrors the novelty betting seen on global platforms.
Goldrush’s online presence is supported by a dedicated affiliate network, goldrush.partnersaff.com, which expands its reach through SEO, content marketing, and influencer partnerships. The company also runs consumer-facing portals like GoldrushLogin.co.za and GoldrushRegister.co.za to protect players from scams and illegal operators. These sites feature a “Whack-a-Scammer” game, a tongue-in-cheek response to the rise of gambling-related digital fraud.
Transparency is a priority. Goldrush’s corporate website lists all verified licences and gambling activities, broken down by vertical and region. This level of disclosure is rare in the industry and reflects the group’s commitment to regulatory compliance.
As the incoming National Lottery operator, Goldrush has pledged to double contributions to the NLDTF, which received R13.5 billion from Ithuba since 2015. Chairman Moses Tembe has stated that the group will use the opportunity to generate jobs and stimulate the economy, promising to introduce technology “never seen in our country.”
Goldrush’s community engagement goes beyond the lottery. The group supports local events and charities, provides jobs and training, and manages in-store promotions across its bingo venues. Each branch follows a national marketing strategy adapted to local audiences, with support from head office, regional, and local management.
Promotional campaigns are also supported digitally, linking in-venue engagement with the group’s national online presence. This integrated approach ensures that players enjoy a consistent experience, whether they are participating in a local bingo draw or playing online.
The awarding of the National Lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings has not been without controversy. Legal challenges from rival bidders, questions from parliamentarians, and ongoing court cases have kept the process in the spotlight. The outgoing operator, Ithuba, was granted a 12-month extension despite being disqualified by law, and the future of the lottery could remain in limbo if legal action succeeds.
Goldrush’s leadership, including Executive Chairman Pieter Gerhardt Viljoen and Executive Director Theunis Booysen de Bruyn, has navigated these challenges with a focus on compliance and transparency. The group’s ability to deliver on its promises will be tested in the coming years, as it builds the lottery’s infrastructure and manages the transition.
The Bigger Picture
Goldrush’s rise is not just about the lottery. The group represents the most ambitious attempt to localise gambling in South African history, combining national lottery oversight, online casino leadership, real-world presence, and localisation through banking, language, content, and support.
The company’s expansion strategy prioritises high-growth frontier markets, with plans to enter Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. Canada and Latin America are also on the horizon, following a similar trajectory to Genlot, its Chinese partner.
Goldrush’s operations are subject to oversight by seven provincial boards, each with unique compliance frameworks. The group plans to introduce AI-powered lottery interfaces, modernising player experiences with app-based tracking, personal draw history, reminders, and claim automation.
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