Over R25-million in lottery winnings is unclaimed, including a R16.45-million jackpot, national lottery operator Gidani said on Thursday.
Five jackpots went unclaimed last year, said spokesperson Thembi Tulwana.
The R16.45-million jackpot was won on March 2 by a ticket bought in Limpopo.
A R1.31-million jackpot was won on October 15 by a ticket bought in Eastern Cape; a R5-million jackpot on July 30 by a KwaZulu-Natal ticket; and a R1.36-million jackpot on June 15 and a R1.23-million jackpot on November 15 by Gauteng tickets.
Tulwana urged people to check their lottery tickets and claim their winnings at any one of Gidani’s eight regional offices.
“Tickets are valid for 365 days, literally [from] the minute after the draw is made,” she said.
Unclaimed jackpot money was reused by Gidani for marketing and for guaranteed jackpots.
Tulwana said Gidani provided emotional counselling and offered financial advice through recognised financial institutions to ticket holders who won R60 000 and more.
“Their job is to ensure the winnings are sustainable and the investment vehicles used will earn more interest for the winners,” she said. — Sapa