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The Covid-19 pandemic will certainly have a devastating impact on the lives of many South Africans, following the economic decline and income losses. However, this will not be the case for two individuals from Gauteng who have won over R16.8 million in Lotto and Lotto Plus 1 jackpots.
The National Lottery operator Ithuba confirms that there are two new millionaire winners – one from the Lotto draw and the other from the Lotto Plus 1 draw, both on Saturday, 11 April 2020.
The Lotto winner bagged a massive R10,546,013.80 with a ticket wager of R10, purchased at Letsitele in Gauteng. The Lotto Plus 1 jackpot was won at R6, 304, 858.80 and the ticket was bought in Magalies Kruin, Pretoria North for R80. Both players opted for a manual selection of numbers, which means they selected their own lucky numbers.
Due to the lockdown, the winners will only be able to claim their winnings once the lockdown has been lifted. The National Lottery Operator urges all winners to keep their tickets safe during this time.
“We urge the two winners to please keep their tickets safe and secure them by writing their names and ID numbers at the back of their tickets”, said Khensani Mabuza, Corporate Relations Executive at Ithuba.
“We also understand that the winners could be overwhelmed with anxiety, particularly because they have to wait longer than usual before they can claim. We plead with them to remain patient, bearing in mind that all winning tickets have a life span of 365 days before they expire. We want to assure the winners that we are prepared to assist them through a smooth claiming process once we are able to. This includes psychological counselling which is essential in helping them deal with this life changing moment,” said Mabuza.
In line with the lockdown and social distancing rules, Ithuba continues to firmly urge players to utilise the National lottery digital platforms. Players can purchase their Lottery tickets on the National Lottery website, Mobile App and through the digital platforms of its banking partners namely Absa, FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank. “We have seen a significant increase in online participation since the Covid-19 lockdown began. We are pleased to see that players are heeding the call to play the Lottery form the convenience and safety of their own homes.” Mabuza said
The winners will receive financial advice and trauma counselling which the National Lottery offers to winners of R50 000 and above, at no cost to the winner.