Sizekhaya Holdings, the new National Lottery operator, revealed in August that more than R120 million in Lotto and PowerBall prizes is sitting unclaimed.
Many of those tickets were bought through banking apps. Some winners may already have a notification waiting.
The money will not wait forever. Every prize carries a 365-day deadline, and the countdown starts on the draw date.
Two players have just beaten that clock. Sizekhaya has reunited them with a combined R24.8 million: a R23.5 million Lotto jackpot won through Absa and a R1.3 million Lotto 5 Max prize.
Winner Service Manager Whitney Mafatle said: “We have just successfully reunited two players with a combined total of R24.8 million.”
The jackpot winner initially hesitated to answer the operator’s calls, struggling to believe the news.
How the 365-day lottery deadline works
Players have 365 days from the draw date to claim a prize, according to the National Lottery’s Participants Code of Practice.
Once that year passes without a claim, the ticket expires. The winnings are then permanently forfeited.
Sizekhaya’s operations team calls it “a strict validity window of 365 days”.
Prizes above R500,000 typically face special tracing and review after six months. Operators try to reach those winners by phone or banking alert.
Where unclaimed lottery money goes
Expired prize money does not sit in a corporate account.
Sizekhaya says it is handed to the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund. The fund supports community development, sport, arts, culture and charities across South Africa.
A small, agreed portion may also back future guaranteed promotional jackpots.
What happens when you win the lottery
Winnings under R250,000 are deposited automatically into your bank account.
Larger jackpots work differently. You are contacted and must visit an office for validation.
Any prize above R50,000 qualifies you for free financial and trauma counselling, and lottery winnings are tax-free.
How to avoid losing a lottery prize
- Check your banking app. Smaller prizes pay out automatically, but your ticket history may hold news.
- Answer unknown calls. Banks and operators phone big winners directly, and some have mistaken those calls for spam.
- Scan physical tickets. Any lottery retailer can scan a slip, or you can compare numbers with official results online.
- Diarise the draw date. Count 365 days forward and set a reminder.
Why the 365-day deadline matters for big jackpots
Size is no protection.
A Soweto player left a R93.5 million PowerBall ticket from the August 21, 2026 draw unchecked for days, according to TheSouthAfrican.com.
He stepped forward in early September.
The R178 million PowerBall jackpot from the January 20, 2026 draw was bought for R15 on the FNB app.
When NOWinSA reported on it, the winner had not yet come forward publicly. Under the 365-day rule, that window closes in January 2027.
If you have played the South African lottery in the past year, check your history today.
A few minutes could be worth millions.
This content is for informational purposes and intended for individuals 18 years and older. Gamble responsibly.
