News Release

November 2015

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AFRICANA RESEARCH LIBRARY IS NATIONAL LOTTERIES COMMISSION’S BENEFICIARY OF THE YEAR

The beneficiaries of funding from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) took centre stage last night at the annual Beneficiary Awards, held as part of the NLC’s Indaba, in Boksburg.

The awards recognise projects which operate with discipline and integrity and, above all, do so within the compliance standards laid out in their grant agreements. A winner per province was announced and the overall winner was the Africana Research Library, in Kimberley.

NLC Chairperson Alfred Nevhutanda highlighted the fact that the NLC has come a long way since 2000 when 80 organisations became the first beneficiaries and received “emergency” disbursements worth R4.1 million. In the past financial year, 1 918 projects received funding worth R1.4 billion. A total of R20 billion has reached good causes over the past 16 years.

“Beneficiaries are the foot soldiers of the NLC who make it possible to reach communities and change lives. It is extraordinary to see that what was once only an application is now making a tangible difference. Our beneficiaries do the most important work; we are merely a catalyst for the change they are involved in on a daily basis.”

Regulatory compliance and governance have been a focus at this year’s Indaba with the NLC committing to improve stakeholder relationships, root out fraud, tighten up cost management and while pursuing proactive funding.

“Our 2015 nominees provethat the fraud and corruption that we so often encounter can be eliminated, and that there is a strong willingness by many to be responsible custodians of funding for the public good. I applaud all nominees for being responsible ambassadors of our brand,” Nevhutanda said.

NLC Commissioner Charlotte Mampane praised the NLC Board members for their commitment to the beneficiaries and their projects. “It was also the drive of this Board which kept issues of risk, fraud and governance high on the list of priorities for the NLC. They have worked as diligently at funding activities as they have at raising awareness of our regulatory mandate.”

SIDE BAR: The winners are …

Northern Cape:Africana Research Library (Overall Winner)

“This really puts us on the map, nationally and internationally,” said the Head of the Africana Research Library, Shirley James, after the organisation was named Beneficiary of the Year at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) Indaba, last night.

The research library, situated in Kimberley, houses thousands of items of historical importance to the region and its place in Africa. Apart from the wealth of manuscripts, maps, photographs and archaeological documents within its walls, the library also conducts research on a national and international level in areas like mining, geology, the Anglo-Boer War, land claims, fauna and flora and genealogy.

James explains that the NLC funding enabled them to introduce technology as an enabler to preserving this valuable collection of information. “We bought a book-eye scanner to digitise valuable heritage documents and we were able to appoint a permanent staff member to carry this out. Now we can safeguard brittle microfilms and original documents as well as establish an indexing system which makes it much easier to retrieve information.”

The most important aspect has been the digitisation of the local community newspaper, the Diamond Fields Advertiser, as researchers often request to see copies of this dating as far back as 1870.

The library applied for around R1 million in funding in 2009 and received the amount requested in 2010. A second application, for just over R4 million, was made in 2014 and an amount of around R800000 was paid to the library earlier this year.

James says that the application process is a lot of work but if applicants have all their documentation and financials in order, it is much easier. Using the online platform and visiting the local lottery office also helps to speed things up.

“Receiving the National Beneficiary of the Year Award is a milestone we’re very proud of. The NLC has helped us to achieve our goals and boost local, national and international acclaim for the work we do here.”

Free State: Association for Persons with Disabilities

This home has its own residential facilities for the paraplegics, quadriplegics and mentally or otherwise handicapped people, and is a self-sustaining centre.

North West: Prosperity Nursery and Pre-School

The school educates 59 children according to the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) system. It has been recognised by the Department of Social Development and the funding has helped the teachers obtain Early Childhood Development qualifications.

Gauteng: Dream Team Foundation

This project is focused on poultry farming, pig husbandry and the growing of fruit and vegetables, and has a bakery on a separate site. It also serves as a half-way house for former prisoners to assist them with skills development, job seeking and social integration.

Mpumalanga:Wisani Daycare

All-round developmental care for the neediest of children is provided here in a colourful setting in the middle of forest. NLC funding enabled the daycare to buy essential equipment and install a borehole.

Eastern Cape: Tsolwana and Sparrows Child Youth Care Centre

This organisation is a home for the homeless. Although the programme was started for orphaned children, the caregivers formed networks with other stakeholders in order to provide integrated programmes.

Limpopo: Waterberg Welfare Society

This is a model for youth development and is a self-sustaining project. It provides skills development and youth empowerment, HIV/Aids education and awareness, as well as treatment and care.

Western Cape: Zeekoevlei Sailing Centre

This is a haven for teaching leadership and life skills to children. It is run by youths and the empowerment and support provided to the organisation is excellent.

Kwazulu-Natal: St Antonine's Home for the Aged

This project has its own vegetable garden and borehole, which also serves the immediate community when necessary. It creates employment opportunities for women and youths to become involved in caring for the aged and also serves as a training facility.

Follow @SA_NLC for live coverage of the Indaba (hashtag #NLCIndaba).

You can also like the National Lotteries Commission Facebook page ( or follow on Instagram (

ENDS

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PREPARED ON BEHALF OF THE NLC BY CATHY FINDLEY PUBLIC RELATIONS. CONTACT NICOLA HONEY ON (011) 463-6372 OR EMAIL

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) was established in terms of the Lotteries Amendment Act (No 32 of 2013) to regulate the National Lottery as well as other lotteries, including society lotteries to raise funds and promotional competitions. The NLC evolved out of the National Lotteries Board, established in terms of the Lotteries Act No 57 of 1997. The National Lotteries Commission was launched in June 2015. Other responsibilities of the Commission include advising the Minister of Trade and Industry on policy matters relating to the National Lottery and other lotteries. NLC members are also trustees of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), into which National Lottery proceeds that are intended for allocation to good causes are deposited. The NLC does not adjudicate applications for funding or make allocations to organisations. This is done by committees known as distributing agencies which are also appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, in conjunction with other relevant Ministers, after a process of public nomination. The NLC provides administrative support to the distributing agencies.