This August, in honour of Women’s Month in South Africa, iGB is proud to launch a new collaboration with Women in Gaming Africa, a monthly column dedicated to elevating the voices shaping the continent’s gaming ecosystem.
Curated by Lois Bright, founder of Women in Gaming Africa, this column will spotlight the people and stories powering industry growth in Africa; from regulators and entrepreneurs to marketers, developers, and rising talent.
Based in Cape Town, Lois brings over years of experience in iGaming and recruitment across the continent, along with a deep passion for building inclusive, community-led spaces within the industry.
To mark the start of this partnership, we’re celebrating five standout women in South Africa’s gaming space – each representing a different corner of the industry. Their stories are personal, powerful, and rooted in purpose.
Through their reflections, we explore what Women’s Month means, what legacy they hope to leave behind, and how Africa is rising; not only as a market but as a force in the global gaming narrative.
The voices behind the movement
Jodi Scholtz
Commissioner, National Lotteries Commission
As commissioner of South Africa’s National Lotteries Commission, Jodi Scholtz holds one of the country’s most influential regulatory positions and brings to it a clear vision of progress, equity, and structural change. She sees Women’s Month as a time for recommitment; to create an inclusive industry that works not just for women today, but for future generations.
Jodi’s proudest milestones include launching the NLC’s digital modernisation programme, securing an unqualified audit opinion, and strengthening the Commission’s mandate to support South African communities. She is also proud to lead with what she calls “an African lens,” shaped by a Cape Flats upbringing rooted in empathy and collective advancement.
“My legacy should reflect the values of ethical leadership, empowerment, joy and sustainable development. And it doesn’t hurt to have some fun while working!”
“Africa is not a frontier to be explored – it is a force to be engaged with.”
Jodi Scholtz, National Lotteries Commission
Thandokazi Mkiya
CRM Campaign Manager, SunBet
With over 12 years in iGaming, Thandokazi Mkiya has made her mark in retention marketing, promotions, and customer engagement. Her rise through the ranks is a testament to consistency, adaptability, and resilience; qualities she believes are essential for women to succeed in this industry.
For Thandokazi, Women’s Month is about honouring progress while staying focused on the road ahead. She’s particularly passionate about seeing more African women in strategic and creative leadership roles.
“Gaming is changing — and African women are not waiting for permission to be part of it.”
Looking back, she’d tell her younger self: “Trust your vision, take up space, and know that even small steps forward count. Your consistency is your superpower.”
“There’s a new kid on the block – Africa – and we’re hungry, innovative, and ready to make our mark.”
Thandokazi Mkiya
Judith Benetello
Marketing & Strategy, InsaGames
Judith Benetello brings soul and strategy to her work in marketing and brand building. She sees Women’s Month as a time to pause and honour the complex roles women play, not only in business, but in families, communities, and personal lives. “It’s about visibility; not just for where we’ve arrived, but for how we got here.”
She finds the most joy in mentorship – recently guiding a young intern who reminded her that growth is contagious when nurtured intentionally. “Seeing another woman thrive because you made space for her…that’s legacy.”
Judith is inspired by the momentum in Africa’s gaming industry, especially among women who are reshaping it with ethics, creativity, and community at the centre. “There’s a very African kind of leadership rising, and it’s powerful to witness.”
“There’s room for all of us in the sun.”
Judith Benetello
Prakashnie Govender
General Manager, Kingdomslots (Sun International)
A chartered accountant by training and a changemaker by nature, Prakashnie Govender has had an extraordinary career spanning gaming, conservation and executive leadership. She proudly wears many hats; GM, mentor, mother, board chair, and advocate for youth development.
Women’s Month, to her, is a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and where the glass ceilings still need to be shattered. “There are so many women running sites and operations across KZN, it’s time their stories are told too.”
She’s passionate about shifting public perceptions of gaming — showing its role in job creation, education funding, and social development. “We’re not just a gaming business – we are an ecosystem that uplifts communities.”
“We don’t leave our lives at the door – we lead with our hearts.”
Prakashnie Govender
Boipelo Lencwe
Technical Compliance Manager, BMM Testlabs SA
Boipelo Lencwe’s 25-year career has taken her from a casino floor host in Johannesburg to a senior technical leader helping shape regulation across the continent. She was one of the first female Technical Shift Managers in South Africa, breaking barriers in a male-dominated space, and proving women can lead in tech, too.
Now at BMM Testlabs, Boipelo works across jurisdictions to raise compliance standards, protect players, and educate regulators. “My mission is to ensure integrity is non-negotiable, and that young women see this industry as a place where they belong.”
She is particularly passionate about creating access points for women, through internships, mentorship, and technical upskilling. “It’s not just about representation. It’s about being resourced, respected, and ready.”
“We’re not just emerging – we’re ready to lead with integrity and innovation.”
Boipelo Lencwe
These five women offer just a glimpse into the power, passion, and progress unfolding in Africa’s gaming industry. As markets evolve and new opportunities emerge, the global gaming community would do well to look toward the continent; not as a developing market, but as a partner, innovator, and growing influence.
At Women in Gaming Africa, we’re committed to building visibility, representation, and opportunity for women across the continent and this monthly column is just one part of that mission.
Want to support women driving Africa’s gaming future?
Partner with us, sponsor our mission, or get involved: 
www.womeningamingafrica.org | 
hello@womeningamingafrica.org
This monthly column is curated by Lois Bright, founder of Women in Gaming Africa
In its first column for iGB, Women in Gaming Africa marks National Women’s Month in South Africa by shining a light on prominent figures across the sector.