Quick Read
- A Western Cape woman claimed an R834,000 Lotto prize on February 5, 2026.
- She claimed the prize on the final day of eligibility, exactly 12 months after purchasing the ticket.
- The winner had ignored over 30 calls from lottery operator Ithuba, believing them to be spam or scam calls.
- Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza described the incident as one of their most extraordinary winner experiences.
- The winner plans to renovate her home, clear her car loan, and treat her husband with the winnings.
WESTERN CAPE (Azat TV) – A woman from South Africa’s Western Cape region has narrowly avoided losing a substantial R834,000 Lotto prize, claiming it on the very last day of eligibility after mistakenly ignoring more than 30 urgent calls from the National Lottery operator, Ithuba. The dramatic eleventh-hour claim, which Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza described as one of the most extraordinary winner experiences, highlights the growing challenge individuals face in distinguishing legitimate calls from an onslaught of spam and scam attempts.
The winning ticket, for the Lotto Plus 2 Draw 2513, was purchased on February 5, 2025, via the Absa banking app using a quick-pick option with a R600 wager. Under National Lottery rules, winners have precisely 12 months from the draw date to claim their prize. This meant the woman’s claim window was set to close on February 5, 2026.
Western Cape Lotto Winner’s Near Miss
The day of the claim was already charged with emotion for the winner, who had attended a funeral earlier that morning. Unaware of the life-changing news awaiting her, she had routinely dismissed repeated calls from unknown numbers throughout the day. ‘I’ve become used to ignoring calls I don’t recognize,’ she explained. ‘So many of them are automated messages, scams or robocalls.’ This common habit nearly cost her a fortune.
Ithuba officials, committed to ensuring prizes reach their rightful owners, made persistent efforts to reach the winner as the deadline approached. Their tenacity paid off when, finally, one call was answered. On the line was an Ithuba representative, urgently informing her that her Lotto ticket was expiring that very day and that she needed to report to an Ithuba office immediately to claim her winnings. The winner initially expressed deep skepticism, believing it to be a scam, a sentiment even shared by her husband.
Navigating Spam Calls and the R834,000 Prize
The experience underscores a prevalent issue in modern communication: the difficulty in trusting unknown callers. The winner’s admission of developing a habit of ignoring unrecognized numbers resonates with many who are constantly bombarded by unsolicited calls. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when legitimate contact is lost amidst a flood of spam.
Reflecting on the day, the woman shared that shortly after taking communion at the funeral, she felt an unusual sense of calm and peace, a moment she now views as deeply symbolic. Having retired approximately 18 months prior to her win, she finds the timing particularly significant. She plans to use her winnings responsibly, focusing on renovating her home, clearing the remaining balance on her car, and treating her husband, whom she credits as a steadfast source of support.
Ithuba’s Commitment to Unclaimed Prizes
Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza emphasized the operator’s dedication to its winners. ‘This is truly one of the most extraordinary winner experiences we’ve had — and we’ve seen many over the years,’ Mabuza stated. She highlighted Ithuba’s unwavering commitment to alerting winners and ensuring every rand reaches its rightful owner, noting that their teams pursued every possible avenue to contact this participant.
National Lottery tickets in South Africa are valid for 365 days from the draw date. If prizes remain unclaimed after this period, the funds are returned to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, where they are allocated for good causes. This policy underscores the importance of promptly checking tickets and responding to official communications, especially when linked to banking apps or player profiles that allow direct contact from the operator.
The incident serves as a compelling illustration of how everyday habits, such as screening unknown calls, can intersect with life-altering opportunities, emphasizing the critical role of vigilance and the lottery operator’s proactive efforts in a digitally noisy world.