South Africa, check your lottery tickets – R37 million is waiting to be claimed
· The South African
What if you had won millions in the National Lottery but didn’t even know it?
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That could be the reality for at least 13 South Africans, with more than R37 million in National Lottery prizes still waiting to be claimed.
Sizekhaya, the operator of the National Lottery, is urging players to check their tickets and banking apps after confirming that R37 094 715.30 in prizes remains unclaimed.
Four Lotto prizes account for almost R33.6 million of the outstanding winnings, including a life-changing jackpot worth more than R23.5 million.
One winner is sitting on R23.5 million
The biggest unclaimed prize is a R23 555 348.50 Lotto jackpot, won in draw number 2654 on 13 June 2026.
The ticket was purchased through Absa, but the winner has yet to come forward.
Three other major Lotto prizes are also waiting to be collected:
- R4 711 267.90 – won through Nedbank on 8 August
- R3 968 095.60 – won through Capitec on 22 July
- R1 361 287 – won through Nedbank on 29 July
The remaining unclaimed prizes include PowerBall and Daily Lotto winnings ranging from hundreds of thousands of rand to more than R500 000.
Check your tickets – and banking apps
Sizekhaya Chief Operating Officer Fundi Sithebe said the operator wants to locate every winner and ensure that the money reaches its rightful owner.
“We love winners. We celebrate every big win because we know what it can mean: paying off a bond, starting a business, helping family or finally making a long-held dream come true,” Sithebe said.
She urged players to check old tickets as well as their banking applications.
Sizekhaya’s Winner Services team is working with banking partners to identify winners who played through banking apps, although several have not yet been reached.
The 13 unclaimed prizes
The outstanding prizes are:
- R23 555 348.50 – Lotto, 13 June, Absa
- R4 711 267.90 – Lotto, 8 August, Nedbank
- R3 968 095.60 – Lotto, 22 July, Capitec
- R1 361 287 – Lotto, 29 July, Nedbank
- R545 941.80 – PowerBall, 31 July, Capitec
- R446 064.50 – PowerBall, 18 August, Absa
- R441 800.40 – Daily Lotto, 12 June, Capitec
- R423 180.30 – Daily Lotto, 18 August, Mzamo Vending, Newcastle
- R395 842.80 – Daily Lotto, 12 August, Shoprite Lentegeur 2, Cape Town
- R390 373.40 – Daily Lotto, 11 August, Hillary Spar, Durban
- R343 172.80 – PowerBall, 7 July, Absa
- R261 890.60 – Lotto, 27 June, Absa
- R250 449.70 – PowerBall, 7 August, Checkers Cornubia, Durban
Don’t leave it too late
National Lottery tickets expire one year after the draw date, meaning winners should not delay checking their tickets and claiming their prizes.
“You might be going about your day, worrying about petrol prices or planning what to cook for supper, without knowing that you are already a millionaire,” Sithebe said.
Players who believe they may hold one of the winning tickets can contact the Sizekhaya Call Centre on 086 102 6000 or visit National Lottery.
There could be a life-changing ticket sitting in a wallet, drawer or banking app right now.
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