The new National Lottery operator, Gidani, has recorded eight million ticket transactions despite all the hiccups that saw the game suspended for more than seven months. "This was clearly a sterling performance," Gidani's public affairs corporate executive Thembi Tulwana said Monday.

National Lottery operator Gidani had sold more than 1,5-million lottery tickets by Monday morning, said its CEO, Bongani Khumalo. "We have worked hard to meet the start deadline and we are seeing a good start ahead of the first draw to due to take place on Saturday October 13," he said.

Former National Lottery operator Uthingo has no intention of contesting the awarding of the lottery licence to Gidani, company chairperson Barney Pityana said on Thursday. "We do not agree, but we do not intend to subject the licensing process to further scrutiny by the courts," Pityana told reporters at Midrand.

Losing National Lottery bidder Igwija Gaming on Friday indicated that it might launch renewed court action questioning the awarding of the licence to incumbent operator Gidani. In a lengthy media statement, Igwija said it would request an urgent meeting with Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa.

After an absence of six months, the National Lottery would make its comeback with a jackpot prize of R15-million, newly appointed Lotto operator Gidani announced on Friday. Tickets for the first draw which would take place on October 13, would go on sale at 7 000 retailers across the country from October 5.

South Africans will be able to start buying lottery tickets in the next two weeks, newly appointed National Lottery operator Gidani said on Friday. To make the transition easier for lottery players, the games will initially remain the same, namely the Lotto, Lotto Plus, Wina Manja scratch-card games and the Sportstake games.