THE winner of the R87.6 million PowerBall megajackpot still hasn’t come forward to claim his or her winnings.
Charmaine Mabuza, the group chief executive of the lottery’s operator Ithuba, and the team met yesterday to celebrate the biggest jackpot win since the game was launched in 2003. But the winner, whoever it is, was conspicuous by his or her absence.
“We are just very happy today. The winner really has to come through because we can’t wait to meet him,” said Mabuza.
The style in which the winner played suggests a regular player, according to Mabuza.
“The winner bought a R20 quick-pick ticket just an hour and 15 minutes before the draw.”
The ticket was bought at a Global Filling Station at Marulaneng, a small village in Mokopane, about 60km from Polokwane, where the incognito jackpot winner is said to live.
Mabuza said there had been jackpot winners in many villages, townships and towns all across South Africa such as Alexandra, Soweto, Khayelitsha and Tzaneen.
“Ithuba is about creating millionaires and changing people’s lives.
“I can only imagine how the winner’s life is going to be changed for the better by this jackpot.”
The owner of the Global Filling Station, John Mphosi, said he was grateful for the exposure he was getting from the win.
However, the most important thing for him now is to help find the new multimillionaire.
“We tried to look at the cameras from the station, but there were too many people.
“I also asked the petrol attendants if they remember selling that quick pick lotto ticket at 7.40pm.”
Mphosi said none of his staff members remember the buyer of the tickets because numerous people played the lottery.
Meanwhile, Ithuba is keeping the party going with a R30m guaranteed jackpot today.