Cape Town mother turns R80 bet into R30 million jackpot
The woman, who retired in 2024, expressed shock at her unexpected fortune, calling it a “retirement blessing”.
South Africa.- A Cape Town woman has become the latest winner of the Lotto Plus 1 jackpot, claiming a prize of R30,211,138.30 (€1.5m). The mother of two matched all six winning numbers drawn on Saturday, July 26, 2025, transforming her modest R80 (€3.86) bet into one of the year’s largest lottery payouts.
According to Ithuba, the National Lottery operator, the winning ticket was purchased at a retail store in Cape Town, with the player manually selecting her numbers.
The woman, who retired in 2024, expressed shock at her unexpected fortune, calling it a “retirement blessing”. She said she was still coming to terms with the result: “I still can’t believe it. I keep looking at the numbers and thinking: Is this really happening to me?”
With the unexpected windfall, the woman plans to prioritise her daughters’ well-being, including providing a car for the one who commutes daily via e-hailing services. She said, “She uses e-hailing vehicles every day because she doesn’t have a car, and I worry about her safety. Now, the first thing I’m doing is buying her a car. That will give me peace of mind.”
She added that most of the winnings would go towards funding a stress-free retirement through smart investments. She noted: “I want to enjoy my retirement now. No stress, just peace. That’s my dream.”
Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza commended the winner’s family-oriented plans for her prize, describing them as “heartwarming”. She said the Lotto Plus 1 jackpot win showcases the ongoing impact of the National Lottery on the lives of ordinary South Africans.
