Gauteng Winner Collects R29 Million
The Pretoria-based player spent R50 on his winning Quick Pick ticket, and both jackpot winners matched the numbers 22, 27, 34, 35, 48 and 50 in the Lotto Plus 1 draw. The grandfather claimed his winnings just five days after hitting the jackpot, visiting the Ithuba offices - the official South Africa lottery operator - with his son. There were over 97,000 winners on the night, including two other ticket holders who matched five of the six main numbers, plus the Bonus Ball 43, to take home R129,619 each.
Naledi Masopha, a spokesperson for Ithuba, revealed about the Pretoria winner: “The winner says that he is a regular Lotto and PowerBall player and has been playing for many years. He has been running an old-age home in his community since 1980, committed to taking care of the elderly. He later started another centre, taking care of children living with disabilities.
"He has sustained both organisations with the help of funding from different donors and some of his own money. The winner says that [the prize] money will go a long way in helping him expand the impact of his organisations. His son says that from when he and his siblings were young both his parents had always taught them the importance of helping others and sharing even the little that you have with them.”
Lotto Plus 1 is a supplementary game to the main Lotto draw, offered to players by Ithuba for a small additional fee. The overall odds of winning a prize in this additional draw are 1 in 38, and the jackpot makes up 20 percent of the prize fund.
Help Children with Disabilities
Both winners overcame odds of over 1 in 20 million to share the eight-figure windfall, and the grandfather plans to put some of his winnings towards children with disabilities in his area. The now multi-millionaire explained: “We have not had enough money to accommodate them and this has been breaking my heart and giving me sleepless nights. I will use some of my winnings to improve this situation.” He will also receive free counselling and financial advice from Ithuba, free-of-charge services offered to all big lottery winners in South Africa.
It has been a busy time for South Africa lottery players, with this big win following on from the Gauteng grandmother who landed R57 million in a Lotto draw back in October. A 42-year-old security guard from Cape Town also won big in August, scooping a PowerBall prize of R64 million. He decided to remain anonymous, and planned to quit his job shortly after winning the jackpot.
