Sizekhaya marks 100 days since National Lottery takeover with US$66.4m in prizes
The operator says more than 12 million winners have been recorded since the June handover, alongside changes to draws, products and access across South Africa.
South Africa.- South Africa’s National Lottery operator Sizekhaya Holdings has reported more than R1bn in prizes during its first 100 days of operation, following its takeover of the National Lottery and Sports Pools in June.
Sizekhaya assumed responsibility for the National Lottery and Sports Pools on June 1, 2026, with the company saying the transition was completed without disrupting draws, ticket sales or prize claims.
According to figures reported by The South African and Daily Sun on September 11, Sizekhaya recorded 12,112,325 winners across PowerBall, PowerBall Xtra, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto 5 Max during its first three months. The combined value of all prizes won was R1.074688bn (US$66.4m).
Sizekhaya COO Fundi Sithebe said the transition required significant preparation. “Taking responsibility for an operation of this size and national significance requires enormous preparation, strong partnerships and absolute focus from the team. We are proud to have delivered a smooth transition and a reliable National Lottery service from day one,” said Sithebe.
During its first 100 days, Sizekhaya introduced several changes to the National Lottery, including the return of live televised draws, cascading jackpots and improved jackpot odds. Scratch Cards and USSD play also returned.
Sizekhaya reported 6,505 active terminals across all nine provinces, while tickets were also available through major banking platforms. A partnership with the South African Post Office expanded ticket purchases and qualifying prize claims to 60 branches.
Three days after taking over, Sizekhaya recorded its first major PowerBall win, when a KwaZulu-Natal player won approximately R128m (US$7.9m). Other major prizes included a R69m (US$4.3m) Lotto win, a R20m (US$1.2m) Lotto prize, three PowerBall Plus wins worth more than R45.7m (US$2.8m) each, and a R93.5m (US$5.8m) PowerBall jackpot won by a player in Soweto.
The operator also completed verification and reconciliation of historic prize records, allowing holders of winning tickets purchased before 1 June to resume submitting claims through the applicable National Lottery processes.
Sithebe said the number of winners was an important measure of the operator’s first 100 days. “But the best measure of these first 100 days is the number of South Africans whose lives have changed through winning. We are delighted to have created so many new millionaires and to have paid prizes ranging from everyday wins to truly life-changing jackpots.”
She added: “The National Lottery is a national asset and managing it on behalf of the people of South Africa is both a privilege and a profound responsibility.”
