R100 Million Lotto Jackpot Claimed After Three Weeks in Pretoria

The Prize Is Claimed After Lengthy Delay

Ithuba Holdings, the operator of the South African National Lottery, had been urging residents in Pretoria to check their tickets, as the R100 million prize from draw number 2461 was still awaiting its rightful owner.

On Sunday, Ithuba announced that the search had come to a close. The winner has come forward, and the R100 million prize is now officially claimed. In a statement, Ithuba congratulated the winner, saying: “Congratulations to the recent Lotto jackpot winner who won over R100 million from the 03/08/2024 draw. The prize has been claimed and the winner search has come to an end!”

This individual joins other recent Lotto winners, including a R59 million PowerBall prize claimed in July and a R70 million PowerBall winner from Benoni in June.

What Happens to Unclaimed Winnings?

In cases where Lotto winnings are not claimed promptly, Ithuba transfers the unclaimed funds to the National Lotteries Participants Trust Fund (NLPTF). The money is held there for up to 365 days, giving winners ample time to claim their prize.

If the winnings remain unclaimed after this period, the funds are redirected to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), where they are distributed to charitable causes and beneficiary organizations.

Benefits for Large Winners

In addition to receiving their winnings tax-free, Lotto winners who secure more than R50,000 are offered free financial advice and trauma counselling. This support helps ensure that winners are prepared to manage their sudden wealth responsibly.

The recent R100 million winner narrowly missed the record jackpot of R110 million, which was split between four individuals in 2018, with tickets purchased across the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and via a banking app.