Sizekhaya addresses National Lottery concerns over integrity, PowerBall and old tickets
The operator has responded to public questions about live draws, older tickets, PowerBall pricing and jackpot payments.
Key takeaways:
- Sizekhaya has addressed concerns over the integrity and transparency of South Africa’s National Lottery.
- The operator said live draws are part of efforts to improve transparency around the lottery.
- Ithuba-era tickets can now be verified at participating retailers or by scanning the ticket barcode digitally.
- Sizekhaya’s Kgothatso Mashile invited members of the public to attend live draws and observe how the balls and machines are selected and how the draw is conducted.
- Jackpot winners are notified by their bank before being directed to Sizekhaya to complete the payment process.
South Africa.- South Africa’s National Lottery operator, Sizekhaya Holdings, has addressed concerns over draw integrity, older winning tickets and the PowerBall price, responding to questions raised by members of the public since taking over the lottery on June 1, 2026.
Sizekhaya head of marketing Kgothatso Mashile addressed the issues during a Radio 702 interview with presenter Thabo Mashao. The interview included questions from 702 listeners about the National Lottery.
Sizekhaya took over the National Lottery and Sports Pools on June 1, replacing Ithuba. The operator became South Africa’s fourth National Lottery operator.
One of the biggest concerns discussed during the 702 interview was the integrity and transparency of the National Lottery. Mashile said this had been a key issue for Sizekhaya to address and pointed to the introduction of live broadcasts as a step towards greater transparency. “That was a call to action for us, and we really had to act on it,” he said, according to a transcript of the programme.
Mashile said the televised live draws were intended to address transparency concerns, while also forming part of Sizekhaya’s efforts to modernise the National Lottery and bridge traditional and digital ways of playing.
Tickets, PowerBall and transparency
The transition to the new operator also prompted questions about tickets purchased during Ithuba’s tenure. Mashile explained that the handover involved documents and other details that had to be processed before winners from the previous operator’s period could be paid.
He said tickets played during the Ithuba tenure can now be verified at participating retailers. Players can also check tickets digitally by scanning the barcode, while those who need assistance can contact Sizekhaya.
The issue was raised by a 702 listener who said they had been unable to verify an older ticket at retailers during the transition. Mashile directed players with such tickets to Sizekhaya’s contact centre and said the operator was ready to assist with verification.
The PowerBall price was another issue raised by listeners, with one caller describing the increase as unaffordable. Mashile explained that Sizekhaya wanted to create a clearer distinction between PowerBall and Lotto, with PowerBall designed around bigger and more frequent jackpots. He said PowerBall had been set at R10 (US$0.61), while Lotto remained at R5 (US$0.30). “We said, let’s clearly separate so that we can define the two games as two separate brands.”
The question of whether National Lottery draws are fair was also raised, with the presenter noting that some South Africans believe the lottery is rigged. Mashile invited members of the public to attend the live draw proceedings in person, where they can observe how the balls and machines are selected and how the draw is conducted.
Mashile said Sizekhaya’s approach is built around integrity, transparency and innovation. “We are there for the people. We are doing this for the people. We are Sizekhaya because we are here to help the people of South Africa.”
The interview also covered prize payments and winner privacy. Mashile said jackpot winners are notified by their bank before being directed to Sizekhaya to complete the payment process. He also said winners are not required to pose for photographs, with their safety and discretion taking priority.
