Lottery winner's near miss: ignored 'spam' calls could have cost R800 000

IN A TALE that could easily find a place in the annals of extraordinary lottery stories, Ithuba, the operator of South Africa's National Lottery, recounts an incredible victory for one fortunate winner. This unique incident highlights the life-changing potential of the lottery. 

The winning ticket comes from LOTTO PLUS 2 Draw 2513.

The participant purchased her ticket on February 5, 2025, via the Absa Banking App using the quick pick selection method with a R600 wager, and went on to secure a remarkable prize of R834 541.00.

In a dramatic twist of fate, the ticket was due to expire exactly one year later.

On February 5, 2026, the very last day it could be claimed, the winner finally arrived at an Ithuba office after answering a call that informed her that her ticket was expiring that same day. What makes this story truly extraordinary is how close she came to missing out entirely.

"On the day of the claim, the winner had attended a funeral. Throughout the day, her phone rang repeatedly, showing more than 30 missed calls. She ignored them, assuming they were spam or robocalls. The winner admits she has developed a habit of ignoring unknown numbers because many of them are automated calls and scams," said Ithuba in a statement. 

Ituba said it was only when she eventually answered a call and was informed that her National Lottery ticket was expiring that day, and that she needed to urgently visit an Ithuba office, that the reality began to sink in.

She recalled that shortly after taking communion at the funeral, she felt an overwhelming sense of calm and peace.

“At first, I didn’t believe it,” she said.

“I honestly thought it was a scam. Even my husband told me it couldn’t be real.”

Behind the scenes, the Ithuba team had been working relentlessly to reach her, determined to ensure the rightful winner did not lose out. Their persistence finally paid off when she answered the call and was guided to the Ithuba Claremont office in the Western Cape on the final day of the claim period.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she shared.

“I had gone from attending a funeral to claiming over R800 000 on the very same day. It was emotional, overwhelming and completely unexpected.”

The winner, who retired approximately 18 months ago, said the timing of the win felt deeply meaningful. She plans to renovate her home, settle the remaining balance on her car and spoil her husband, who has been a constant source of support since her retirement.

Reflecting on her experience, she encourages fellow participants to check their tickets and banking notifications regularly.

Ithuba CEO, Charmaine Mabuza said: “This is one of the most extraordinary winner stories we have experienced, and we have had many. It speaks to the heart of who we are as the proud operator of the National Lottery. We are unwavering in our commitment to alerting winners and ensuring every rand reaches its rightful owner. Our teams pursued every possible avenue to contact this participant because we genuinely want to share in the joy of our winners. Their moments of celebration are ours too." 

National Lottery tickets are valid for 365 days from the draw date. 

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