{{Short description|First operator of South African National Lottery}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
'''Uthingo Management (Pty) Ltd''' was the first licensed operator of the South African National Lottery from March 2000 to March 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khumalo |first=Kabelo |date=22 July 2025 |title=Tau unfazed by ‘litigation prone’ lottery tendering |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/3232023684/fulltext/AF9DEFF7074935PQ/3 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=Business Day |location=Johannesburg |via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=van Wyk |first=Ilana |date=February 2012 |title='TATA MA CHANCE': ON CONTINGENCY AND THE LOTTERY IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/916761840/fulltext/AF9DEFF7074935PQ/1 |journal=Africa |volume=82 |issue=1 |pages=41–68 |doi=10.1017/S0001972011000726 |via=ProQuest}}</ref> Uthingo, which means "Rainbow" in Zulu, was a Black Economic Empowerment-compliant consortium, with 70 percent ownership by South Africans, including black-owned firms, the South African Post Office, and the National Empowerment Fund.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 1999 |title=Camelot to run Rainbow lottery |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/312894718/AF9DEFF7074935PQ/8 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=The Independent |location=London |via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Daneshkhu |first=Scheherazade |date=10 July 1999 |title=Camelot consortium wins South Africa contract |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/248707530/AF9DEFF7074935PQ/7 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=Financial Times |via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The other 30 percent was owned by overseas shareholders were GTech Corporation, Camelot Group, and Tattersalls, which each owned 10 percent.<ref name=":1" /> The CEO of Uthingo was Humphrey Khoza, an ordained priest who was also the first black president of the South African Chamber of Business.<ref name=":0" />
Camelot sold its stake in Uthingo in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Steiner |first=Rupert |date=25 September 2005 |title=Camelot investors get windfall from SA lottery sell-off |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/461522243/AF9DEFF7074935PQ/55 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=Knight Ridder Tribune Business News |location=Washington |via=ProQuest}}</ref> In 2006, Uthingo lost its bid to renew its licence to Gidani, triggering a protracted legal battle in the Pretoria High Court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 August 2006 |title=Uthingo dumped as preferred bidder in South Africa lottery |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/454915143/AF9DEFF7074935PQ/62 |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=AAP Finance Newswire |location=Sydney |via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Lawyers for Uthingo argued that three members of Gidani were prominent figures in the African National Congress, presenting a conflict of interest.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Moledi |first=Isaac |date=6 March 2007 |title=Judge cancels contract given to ANC bigwigs |url=https://www.sowetan.co.za/news/2007-03-06-judge-cancels-contract-given-to-anc-bigwigs/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |work=Sowetan}}</ref> The national lottery was suspended for a seven-month period until the court ultimately upheld Gidani's bid in October 2007.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.uthingo.co.za/ Uthingo homepage]
Category:Gambling companies of South Africa