On 1 June 2025, ITHUBA Holdings, the temporary license operator of the South African National Lottery, has achieved one of the smoothest system transitions ever recorded in the lottery industry, both locally and internationally, one of the fastest system migrations probably ever seen in the global lottery industry – delivering a full transition to a new core technology platform in under two hours with zero downtime.
This achievement was powered by Paytronix, a 100% Black-owned South African ICT company, and marks a significant step in the country’s move toward full technological sovereignty in lottery operations.
“The speed, precision, and scale of this migration demonstrate what’s possible when strong planning, local capability, and bold vision come together,” said ITHUBA
- Seamless switchover across all major South African banks, including Capitec, FNB, ABSA, Standard Bank, Nedbank, and others.
- Real-time integration with mobile network operators MTN and Vodacom.
- Continuous functionality across the National Lottery website, mobile apps, and e-commerce platforms.
- Uninterrupted access via more than 250,000 retailer terminals and handheld devices nationwide.
Despite receiving confirmation of a 12-month Temporary Licence only on the evening of 31 May 2025, ITHUBA and Paytronix delivered the full-scale migration overnight. This flawless transition ensured millions of South Africans could continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to National Lottery games—both online and at retail.
This project marks a notable shift away from legacy foreign systems toward an entirely homegrown infrastructure model. The decision to develop and operate the technology in-country reflects a broader strategy of vertical integration, enabling faster innovation, tighter governance, and greater value retention within the national economy.
Regularly audited by the National Lotteries Commission of South Africa, both ITHUBA and Paytronix operate under strict regulatory oversight, with full transparency and no adverse findings reported to date.
This marks more than a simple systems upgrade – it sets a new benchmark for how National Lotteries can harness local capability to deliver world-class outcomes, offering a blueprint for global best practice.
As South Africa continues to set benchmarks in performance, inclusion, and innovation, the successful migration of its core lottery infrastructure stands as a global best practice.
South Africa is not only playing its lottery – it’s now running it, end to end.
