News24 | Jozi FM chair arrested over missing lottery millions

Jozi FM chair Rapitse Montsho was arrested and charged with fraud and theft involving National Lottery Commission grants totalling R34.8 million.

• Jozi FM chair Rapitse Montsho was arrested and charged with fraud and theft involving National Lottery Commission grants totalling R34.8 million.
• Investigations were sparked by Jozi FM management after a decade-long delay in building a lottery-funded multimedia centre, with funds allegedly funnelled to Legacy for a project featuring liberation veterans.
• Montsho denies wrongdoing, claiming less than R34.8 million reached the project.

Jozi FM’s chairperson has been released on R10 000 bail after an appearance in the Orlando Magistrate’s Court on fraud and theft charges related to a multimillion-rand lottery grant.

Rapitse Montsho is accused of theft and fraud in connection with National Lottery Commission (NLC) grants totalling R34.8 million, GroundUp reports.

Montsho’s arrest follows a complaint Jozi FM management laid with the police, Ground recently reported. Police confirmed that a docket was registered on 7 May at the Orlando police station before it was transferred to the Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit, which is investigating the matter.

Montsho was arrested on 20 November and appeared in the Orlando Magistrate’s Court the following day. The matter was postponed to 28 November.

The matter was then postponed to 20 January 2026.

Montsho is yet to plead.

He was released on 24 November due to his age and ill health after a special hearing granted him bail of R10 000. Under his bail conditions, Montsho is not allowed to contact witnesses and must remain within the Soweto jurisdiction, except when consulting his legal representatives at their offices in central Johannesburg.

He must report to Protea Glen SAPS from Monday to Friday.

The investigation into the missing millions was prompted by Jozi FM station management after years of waiting for a lottery-funded multimedia centre to be built inside the Jabulani Soweto Theatre Precinct. The funding was granted more than 10 years ago.

GroundUp previously reported that according to NLC annual reports, R24 million was paid to the Soweto Media Resources Centre (SMRC), which operates Jozi FM, in two tranches: R12 million in August 2013 and R12 million in April 2014. A further R10.8 million was paid in October 2015, bringing the total to R34.8 million.

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Montsho previously told GroundUp that the SMRC had merely acted as a conduit for lottery funds for an organisation called Legacy for a project called Freedom Was Not Free. It produced, distributed, and archived documentaries featuring ageing veterans of the liberation struggle.

He said the total amount deposited into the project’s bank account by the NLC was significantly less than R34.8 million, and the Legacy Project funds had been accounted for.

Montsho’s attorney, Chris Mamathuntsha, said the matter was postponed for further investigations.

“We don’t know or have not seen the contents of the docket/the State’s case, so we cannot comment. The arrest has occurred, and it was unfortunate,” Mamathuntsha said.

GroundUp has also not yet seen the charge sheet.