Western Cape pensioner scores R13 million lotto jackpot
The winner intends to donate part of her winnings to charity.
South Africa.- A lucky pensioner in the Western Cape has won over R13 million (€629,722) from the Lotto Plus 1 jackpot.
The winning ticket was bought at a store in Grassy Park for R40 (€1.94) using manual number selection.
Ithuba confirmed the pensioner’s win, announcing she has collected her prize from the April 23 draw.
To the retiree, the win is not just a personal triumph, as she intends to donate some of the prize money to charity.
Recalling the moment she saw her winning numbers on TV during the live draw, she said: “I watched each of the winning numbers appear, and I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I was holding a ticket that matched every number. A ticket worth more than R13m. I’ve never won anything close to this in my life. It feels unreal.”
Upon discovering her win, she immediately called her son to share the exciting news.
With her financial future now more than secured, the pensioner said she can now devote more time to her garden and focus on the things that bring her joy during her retirement years. She will also invest a substantial portion of her winnings to live comfortably in her golden years.
Charmaine Mabuza, Ithuba CEO, said: “We’re thrilled our winner gets to enjoy her golden years with much more comfort. The win is a testament to the fact that it’s never too late for a life-changing moment. We wish her all the best as she embarks on this new chapter.”
Meanwhile, as Ithuba’s national lottery licence expires on May 31, the process of selecting a new operator has been marked by delays, legal challenges and controversies. At the heart of the dispute is Park Tau, trade, industry, and competition minister, who has been taken to court by one of the licence bidders.
