INTERVIEW ITHUBA: CHARMAINE MABUZA
In 2017, the World Lottery
Association announced that the South African National Lottery
accounted for half of the lottery sales of the entire African continent.
This year, in recognition of our
empowerment efforts, ITHUBA
prevailed in two categories of the Gender Mainstreaming Awards:
Large National Company Positive Role Model Gauteng, and Large
National Company Positive Role
Model – South Africa. ITHUBA was
also a finalist in the Investing in Young Women category. On the global front, ITHUBA was recognized by Gaming Intelligence as Lottery Operator of
the Year in Africa, and, as ITHUBA
CEO, iGaming Business positioned
me among the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Gaming.
From a purely business perspective, what particular challenges have you experienced and how did you solve them?
When ITHUBA started operating the National Lottery, we had to ensure that we address the gender representation gap within the industry which is primarily male-dominated. We had to ensure that we appoint and equal number of female executives compared to our male-counter-parts. This is a global challenge within the gaming industry, and I am pleased to say that within our executive committee, we have 50% female representation.
What differences have your solutions made to your company?
Growing online gaming has been one of the best things we have done for
the economy. Africa will get a piece of
ITHUBA’s ability to keep abreast
this big pie.
advancement has allowed us to
expand the footprint of the National
What would you say is your leadership style?
turn has meant we have been able
A leader knows how to get the best
the South African economy and to
to know and understand my subject-
entrepreneurship, and support
to debate and find solutions that
of innovation and technology
Lottery and increase sales. This in
I tend towards a collaborative style.
to put back substantial amounts into
out of their team and I take the time
educate young professionals, develop
matter experts and encourage them
women and youth.
are a win-win for all.
When we were awarded the National
However when the going is tough I
the first female CEO in the gaming
to follow the toughest and loneliest
one of the few in the world. From
strong vision of where you want the
transforming the racial and the
ITHUBA opening out further across
Lottery contract in 2015, I became
am prepared, as any leader must be,
sector for the whole of Africa and
path. And you need to have a
the outset I have made sure that
business to go. For example, we see
gender profile of the gaming sector
the African continent.
remains a top priority.
How has COVID affected your business model? I believe that any business – big or
How do you relax?
I have a very hectic and demanding
job as the CEO, so what I value above all is spending time with family over
small – should have a continuity plan
the weekend.
of crisis. We were all caught off guard
by COVID-19, but ITHUBA was a jump
Do you have a message of hope for our readers out there?
Africa – we had a strongly flexible
been devastating for our lives and for
adopted the innovative technology
become more realistic about how
gaming. Our players were able to
learnt some valuable lessons in how
in place, ready to implement in a time
ahead when the pandemic hit South
While the COVID-19 pandemic has
team in place, and we had already
many people’s livelihoods, we have
that enabled us to transition to online
to handle it. As a country we have
make use of our digital platforms.
to survive the challenges that it has brought. Now that the government has relaxed the restrictions, our
priority should be to re-energise the
economy and create more jobs. If we work together with our government, by creating opportunities for more citizens to enter the productive
economy, we will be building a better future for ourselves.
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