Ithuba Addresses Social Media Claims About Lottery Winners
National Lottery operator Ithuba has responded to social media allegations questioning the legitimacy of jackpot winners. The company addressed claims suggesting all major winners since 2020 came exclusively from Absa or FNB banking platforms.
Winner Distribution Across Multiple Platforms
Ithuba provided extensive documentation of winners from various locations and platforms. Major jackpots have been claimed at retail outlets including Victor and Sons Café in Roodepoort, Caltex filling stations in Groblersdal, and Superspar locations in Ballito and Johannesburg. The R167 million PowerBall prize won at Superspar Lifestyle Ballito in February 2022 represents one of the largest retail victories.
Banking platform winners include players using Standard Bank, Capitec, FNB, and Absa applications. A Limpopo shop assistant won R16 million through the Capitec app in May 2024. Ithuba stated that “winners are determined purely by chance,” adding that no entity can predict or influence outcomes.
Banking Platform Statistics and Historical Context
The operator explained that FNB and Absa were early adopters of lottery services on banking platforms. Ithuba noted that “when Ithuba was awarded the license in 2015, FNB already offered National Lottery purchases on its banking platform.” This historical precedence explains higher winner numbers from these institutions compared to later adopters.
Banking platforms now account for 60% of National Lottery ticket sales nationwide. The company maintains that winners emerge from rural villages to major cities through both retail and digital channels. Since 2015, Ithuba has contributed over R15.4 billion to the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund for charitable causes.
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