SOUTH AFRICA LOTTERY HOLDS US$14.3M IN UNCLAIMED PRIZES AS POWERBALL DEADLINE NEARS
South Africa’s National Lottery has accumulated more than R257m (US$14.3m) in unclaimed winnings across various games, with players being urged to check their tickets before claim deadlines expire.
Following the transition to Sizekhaya Holdings as the country’s fourth National Lottery operator on June 1, outstanding claims from the previous operator, Ithuba, were reopened from June 10 to allow players to process pending winnings.
One of the most urgent cases involves an unclaimed PowerBall second division prize worth R509,925.30 (US$28,400), which is set to expire on July 18. The ticket was reportedly purchased via the ABSA Banking App for the July 18, 2025 draw, with winning numbers 5, 21, 26, 28, 39 and PowerBall 6. Players who participated through digital channels have been encouraged to review their accounts before the deadline passes.
Under National Lottery regulations, winners have 365 days from the draw date to claim their prizes. Any unclaimed funds are transferred to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, where they are allocated to charitable causes and community development initiatives.
Winners of prizes exceeding R50,000 are required to complete the claims process in person at a regional Sizekhaya office, presenting a valid South African identification document.
With no confirmation yet that the PowerBall prize has been claimed, the approaching deadline highlights the importance of checking both physical and digital tickets before winnings expire.
