Raymond Joseph
@rayjoe.bsky.social
Journalist, fact-checker. 2021 Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism; 2022 Vodacom Journalist of the Year; Taco Kuiper Investigative Journalism Award 2022
The noose tightens: This luxury home is owned by a man whose NPO has received almost R70-m in lottery funding. It was paid for from grants intended for an old age home in the Free State and an agricultural project in KZN. > bit.ly/3HqPHDC via @groundup.org.za
Luxury home of Lottery “kingpin” frozen by Special Tribunal
Non-profit organisation headed by Alfred Sigudhla received nearly R70-million from the Lottery
bit.ly
June 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The noose tightens: This luxury home is owned by a man whose NPO has received almost R70-m in lottery funding. It was paid for from grants intended for an old age home in the Free State and an agricultural project in KZN. > bit.ly/3HqPHDC via @groundup.org.za
"Why we need a right to be informed'": an 11-part series by @groundup.org.za >> See bit.ly/3ZbMb65
Why we need a right to be informed
Why the right to be informed is essential for democracy and how digital platforms threaten it.
bit.ly
June 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM
"Why we need a right to be informed'": an 11-part series by @groundup.org.za >> See bit.ly/3ZbMb65
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
The National Lotteries Commission told Parliament on Tuesday that its efforts to curb corruption have caused underspending.
Read groundup.org.za/article/nlc-... by Joseph Bracken and Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/nlc-... by Joseph Bracken and Raymond Joseph
NLC did nothing to stop 4,000 “delinquents” from getting grant funding
New corruption-busting efforts have caused grant money to go unspent
groundup.org.za
May 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
The National Lotteries Commission told Parliament on Tuesday that its efforts to curb corruption have caused underspending.
Read groundup.org.za/article/nlc-... by Joseph Bracken and Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/nlc-... by Joseph Bracken and Raymond Joseph
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
The Lottery may have to stop selling tickets after the licence of Ithuba Holdings expires on Saturday, 31 May
Read groundup.org.za/article/cour... by Tania Broughton
Read groundup.org.za/article/cour... by Tania Broughton
Court rules against Lottery: ticket sales may stop on Sunday
“I do not accept that the sky will fall,” says Judge
groundup.org.za
May 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The Lottery may have to stop selling tickets after the licence of Ithuba Holdings expires on Saturday, 31 May
Read groundup.org.za/article/cour... by Tania Broughton
Read groundup.org.za/article/cour... by Tania Broughton
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) presented findings on corruption at the National Lotteries Commission to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday.
Read groundup.org.za/article/siu-... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/siu-... by Raymond Joseph
SIU cracks down on lottery corruption, but NPA missing in action
Findings were presented to SCOPA this week
groundup.org.za
May 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) presented findings on corruption at the National Lotteries Commission to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday.
Read groundup.org.za/article/siu-... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/siu-... by Raymond Joseph
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
A company closely linked to the current lottery operator is busy negotiating a temporary licence to run the lottery for the next twelve months.
Read groundup.org.za/article/ithu... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/ithu... by Raymond Joseph
Ithuba poised to run Lottery for next 12 months — despite legal concerns
And Goldrush-backed consortium picked for eight-year licence starting in 2026
groundup.org.za
May 16, 2025 at 9:04 AM
A company closely linked to the current lottery operator is busy negotiating a temporary licence to run the lottery for the next twelve months.
Read groundup.org.za/article/ithu... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/ithu... by Raymond Joseph
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
It is likely that the sale of lottery tickets will be suspended from midnight on 31 May, when Ithuba’s licence expires
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Raymond Joseph
Lottery ticket sales likely to be suspended from 1 June
Minister Tau backtracks on temporary licence, will announce permanent operator at end of May
groundup.org.za
March 31, 2025 at 8:28 AM
It is likely that the sale of lottery tickets will be suspended from midnight on 31 May, when Ithuba’s licence expires
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Raymond Joseph
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
After receiving R10-mil from government in 2018 and R15-mil from the Lottery in 2021, the National Academy of Africa’s Performing Arts in Soweto remains unfinished. Instead, R28-mil more is wanted to complete the facility
Read groundup.org.za/article/r25-... by Raymond Joseph and Kimberly Mutandiro
Read groundup.org.za/article/r25-... by Raymond Joseph and Kimberly Mutandiro
R25-million and six years later, Soweto centre still needs millions to be completed
SIU investigates unfinished arts centre backed by music legends Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu
groundup.org.za
March 25, 2025 at 8:32 AM
After receiving R10-mil from government in 2018 and R15-mil from the Lottery in 2021, the National Academy of Africa’s Performing Arts in Soweto remains unfinished. Instead, R28-mil more is wanted to complete the facility
Read groundup.org.za/article/r25-... by Raymond Joseph and Kimberly Mutandiro
Read groundup.org.za/article/r25-... by Raymond Joseph and Kimberly Mutandiro
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has been accused of “frustrating” the award of the fourth national lottery licence in order to advance the interests of the present licence holder, Ithuba
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Lottery licence bidder accuses Minister of favouring Ithuba
HCI subsidiary Wina Njalo brought an urgent court application after Minister Parks Tau postponed deadline for new operator
groundup.org.za
March 25, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has been accused of “frustrating” the award of the fourth national lottery licence in order to advance the interests of the present licence holder, Ithuba
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
HCI subsidiary Wina Njalo takes minister to court over Lottery licence
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Lottery licence bidder accuses Minister of favouring Ithuba
HCI subsidiary Wina Njalo brought an urgent court application after Minister Parks Tau postponed deadline for new operator
groundup.org.za
March 27, 2025 at 10:21 AM
HCI subsidiary Wina Njalo takes minister to court over Lottery licence
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
Read groundup.org.za/article/lott... by Tania Broughton
The noose tightens: Two more lottery staff members, one of them a former acting COO, fired. via @GroundUp_News >>
bit.ly/41XpFOJ
bit.ly/41XpFOJ
Two more Lottery officials dismissed after appeals fail
Former acting chief operating officer and a Durban-based client liaison officer were summarily dismissed last year
bit.ly
March 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM
The noose tightens: Two more lottery staff members, one of them a former acting COO, fired. via @GroundUp_News >>
bit.ly/41XpFOJ
bit.ly/41XpFOJ
The speech that led to Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa's ambassador to Washington, being told he's "no longer welcome" in the US. bit.ly/4buNmm4 >> via @groundup.org.za
Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s speech that made him ‘no longer welcome’ in the US
bit.ly
March 15, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The speech that led to Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa's ambassador to Washington, being told he's "no longer welcome" in the US. bit.ly/4buNmm4 >> via @groundup.org.za
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
“Those nasty Canadians are ripping us off and are controlled by Mexican cartels. They’re poisoning us with fentanyl and need to become the 51st state or they will pay a high price” is a belief that literally ZERO Americans had six weeks ago. It’s entirely invented from scratch.
March 6, 2025 at 2:23 AM
“Those nasty Canadians are ripping us off and are controlled by Mexican cartels. They’re poisoning us with fentanyl and need to become the 51st state or they will pay a high price” is a belief that literally ZERO Americans had six weeks ago. It’s entirely invented from scratch.
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
A closed request for proposals for a temporary licence to run the lottery has been issued, but critics are concerned that only the present operator, Ithuba, has the infrastructure to meet the deadline and have the lottery up and running.
Read groundup.org.za/article/mini... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/mini... by Raymond Joseph
Minister issues tender for 12-month temporary lottery licence
Critics say this favours Ithuba, the current operator
groundup.org.za
March 6, 2025 at 2:15 PM
A closed request for proposals for a temporary licence to run the lottery has been issued, but critics are concerned that only the present operator, Ithuba, has the infrastructure to meet the deadline and have the lottery up and running.
Read groundup.org.za/article/mini... by Raymond Joseph
Read groundup.org.za/article/mini... by Raymond Joseph
The sale of lottery tickets in South Africa could be suspended after trade, industry and competition Minister Parks Tau announced a 12-month delay in naming a new lottery operator >> via @GroundUp_News >> bit.ly/4bvrHKF
Decision on new Lottery operator postponed by a year. But Ithuba’s licence expires in May
No clarity on what happens to lotto ticket sales and NLC grants after expiry
bit.ly
February 24, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The sale of lottery tickets in South Africa could be suspended after trade, industry and competition Minister Parks Tau announced a 12-month delay in naming a new lottery operator >> via @GroundUp_News >> bit.ly/4bvrHKF
This was inevitable after SA made it clear that we wouldn't be bullied. It's now incumbent on our government to urgently find the funds to continue the affected programmes. We should not need others to help keep our vulnerable communities alive and healthy. via @groundup.org.za >>bit.ly/40T6pl9
Trump has stopped aid to South Africa, endangering thousands of lives
But we must not allow peddlers of hate to undermine our fragile constitutional democracy
bit.ly
February 8, 2025 at 10:28 AM
This was inevitable after SA made it clear that we wouldn't be bullied. It's now incumbent on our government to urgently find the funds to continue the affected programmes. We should not need others to help keep our vulnerable communities alive and healthy. via @groundup.org.za >>bit.ly/40T6pl9
The National Lotteries Commission paid a company with a checkered history almost R500k to probe a computer security breach that never happened. It's yet another e.g. of how, under its previous board and executive, the NLC squandered public money meant for good causes. >> via @groundup.org.za
Lottery paid R500,000 to company to probe computer breach that never happened
Forensic auditors found several red flags in the payment to Neo Solutions
groundup.org.za
February 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The National Lotteries Commission paid a company with a checkered history almost R500k to probe a computer security breach that never happened. It's yet another e.g. of how, under its previous board and executive, the NLC squandered public money meant for good causes. >> via @groundup.org.za
How reporting leaks that helped expose corruption to South Africa's spooks backfired on the #NationalLotteriesCommission via @groundup.org.za >> bit.ly/4hkCLfx
Lottery bosses turned to State Security Agency to investigate leaks
But things didn’t go the way they wanted
bit.ly
January 29, 2025 at 2:51 PM
How reporting leaks that helped expose corruption to South Africa's spooks backfired on the #NationalLotteriesCommission via @groundup.org.za >> bit.ly/4hkCLfx
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
Journalist: posts in-depth articles that took weeks to report.
Twitter these days: here's one automatic like from a porn bot.
Twitter these days: here's one automatic like from a porn bot.
January 23, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Journalist: posts in-depth articles that took weeks to report.
Twitter these days: here's one automatic like from a porn bot.
Twitter these days: here's one automatic like from a porn bot.
Reposted by Raymond Joseph
Beware of the DOGE
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
January 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Beware of the DOGE
From the new Private Eye, out now.
From the new Private Eye, out now.
Greetings. After 15 years on Twitter, I'm finally dipping my toes into the Bluesky pond.
January 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Greetings. After 15 years on Twitter, I'm finally dipping my toes into the Bluesky pond.