South Africa’s national lottery operator, iThuba, has issued a public call for the winner of a Daily Lotto ticket from 25 November 2024 to come forward.
Daily Lotto jackpot unclaimed: R525,421 winner yet to come forward
The winning ticket, worth R525,421.80, was bought in Jane Furse, a town in the Limpopo province. More than six months later, the prize has not yet been claimed.
The Daily Lotto is a lottery game in South Africa that runs every evening, with players selecting five numbers from 1 to 36. To win the jackpot, all five numbers must match the numbers drawn.
In the draw held on Monday, 25 November 2024, the winning numbers were 02, 04, 17, 18, and 20.
iThuba confirmed that one ticket matched all five numbers. That ticket secured the full jackpot amount, which was R525,421.80 out of a total jackpot pool of R550,000.
Despite this win, iThuba says no one has come forward to claim the money.
According to iThuba’s rules, players have one year from the date of the draw to claim their winnings. In this case, the winning ticket will expire on 25 November 2025.
If not claimed by that date, the prize money will be forfeited and reallocated to the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, which funds charity and community development projects in South Africa.
What to do if you bought a ticket that day
People who bought Daily Lotto tickets in Jane Furse or surrounding areas around 25 November 2024 are urged to check their tickets immediately. It is common for players to misplace tickets or forget they’ve bought them.
If you find the winning ticket, you must claim the prize at one of iThuba’s designated regional offices. You will need the original ticket to make a claim.
For big wins like this one, iThuba provides counselling and financial advice to help winners manage their money.
What happens to unclaimed prizes
According to iThuba, if lottery winnings are not claimed within the one-year period, the money does not go back to the lottery operator. Instead, it is placed in a public benefit fund. This fund is used for social development programs across the country.
In a statement, iThuba said:
“We urge all players to always write their name on the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place. If you played the Daily Lotto around that time and in that area, now is the time to double-check your tickets.”
As the deadline of 25 November 2025 draws closer, the hope is that the rightful winner will come forward before it is too late.
