A recently retired Cape Town mother is celebrating a life-changing R30 million windfall after matching all six numbers in the Lotto Plus 1 draw — a moment she describes as a “retirement blessing.”
“I still can’t believe it. I keep looking at the numbers and thinking: is this really happening to me?” she said in disbelief, after claiming her prize of R30,211,138.30 from Saturday’s draw, number 2562.
Her winning Lotto Plus 1 numbers were:
04, 07, 23, 28, 44, 46. Bonus ball: 18
The ticket — purchased at a local store in Cape Town — was manually selected and cost just R80. The woman, who retired in 2024, has been financially supporting her two daughters and says the jackpot could not have come at a better time.
“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 said, referring to her youngest daughter.
Beyond that, the Western Cape mother says most of the winnings will be carefully invested.
“I want to enjoy my retirement now. No stress, just peace. That’s my dream.”
Ithuba praises ‘heartwarming plans’
ITHUBA, operator of the National Lottery, congratulated the winner for claiming her prize promptly and for her meaningful use of the funds.
“We are thrilled that the winner wasted no time in claiming her winnings,” said Charmaine Mabuza, CEO of Ithuba.
“To learn that she will finally be able to gift her daughter with a car that will help ensure a safer commute to work is heartwarming and will surely ease her anxiety. This is another testament of how Ithuba continues to transform lives through the National Lottery.”
Winners of R50,000 and above receive free trauma counselling and financial advice. All winnings are tax-free, and players must be 18 or older to participate. Play responsibly.
In case you missed it — here are the winning numbers:
Lotto: 12, 16, 20, 22, 27, 52. Bonus ball: 21 Lotto Plus 1: 04, 07, 23, 28, 44, 46. Bonus ball: 18 Lotto Plus 2: 12, 15, 22, 23, 41, 42. Bonus ball: 13
South Africa’s lottery legacy grows
This latest winner joins a growing list of locals whose lives have been turned around by the lottery. In 2021, an unemployed mother hit one of South Africa’s largest PowerBall jackpots, while several other winners have made headlines for their life-changing wins — as seen in this list of South Africa’s biggest PowerBall winners.
Earlier this year, however, the country faced a temporary lottery blackout after a court ruling blocked Ithuba’s licence extension, suspending draws for several days.
Still, for this Cape Town mom, the National Lottery has delivered more than just luck — it’s brought her peace, security, and a chance to retire with dignity.
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