Gqeberha – A Gqeberha woman, who won a R40 million Lotto Plus 1 jackpot, has finally come forward to claim her prize, transforming herself into a self-proclaimed "blesser."
The lucky winner, who purchased her ticket on December 28th, 2024, waited until January 3rd, 2025, to claim her winnings. The delay, she explained, was due to a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming excitement.
"I have not been able to eat since Saturday, 28 December, with excitement," she revealed to Ithuba, the National Lottery operator.
Her initial reaction to winning was to hide the ticket, a rather unusual method of safekeeping: "After hiding the winning ticket inside toilet paper in her diary," she recounted her actions following the life-changing discovery.
"I eventually phoned the call centre and subsequently visited the Ithuba office where I learned that I was R40 million richer."
The newfound wealth has clearly not diminished her humility. Instead, the winner expressed a strong desire to share her fortune. "When you are blessed, it is your duty to become a blessing to others," she declared, outlining her intentions for the substantial windfall. "That is exactly what I intend to do with my winnings – bless others."
Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza expressed delight at the conclusion of 2024, highlighting the significance of this substantial win: “We are thrilled to celebrate Lotto Plus 1 to wrap up 2024. The year was marked by phenomenal jackpots, and this win is a landmark moment to have closed the year on a high note.”
Ithuba offers a range of support services to its winners, including free trauma counselling and financial advice for those who win R50 000 or more. This support is designed to help winners navigate the significant life changes that accompany such a substantial prize.
Missed the Draw?
Don't worry! You can still try your luck next Tuesday and Friday. Remember, you've got to be in it to win it!
Draw Times:
- PowerBall and PowerBall Plus draws: Every Tuesday and Friday at 20:58 (SA time).
How to Play PowerBall:
- Choose five main numbers from 1 to 50.
- Pick one PowerBall number from 1 to 20.
- Cost: R5.00 per board.
PowerBall Record:
- The biggest PowerBall win in South Africa was a staggering R232 131 750.69 on 19 February 2019!
How to Play PowerBall Plus:
- Same as PowerBall, but with an additional R2.50 per board.
- Introduced on 28 November 2015.
- Slightly lower prizes than PowerBall.
Where to Buy Tickets:
- Retailers: Your nearest participating retailer.
- Online: nationallottery.co.za (computer or mobile).
- App: National Lottery Mobile App.
- Participating Banks: FNB, ABSA, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, TymeBank and African Bank.
- USSD: Dial *1207529#
Winner Benefits:
- Big Wins: Winners of R50,000 or more receive free trauma counselling and financial advice.
- Tax-Free: Winnings are paid tax-free directly into your account.
Ticket Sales Closing Time:
- Retailers: 20:30 on the day of the draw.
Eligibility:
- Must be 18 years or older.
National Lottery Game Schedule:
- Monday: Daily Lotto
- Tuesday: Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus
- Wednesday: Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2
- Thursday: Daily Lotto
- Friday: Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus
- Saturday: Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2
- Sunday: Daily Lotto
