The lucky winner of the R69 284 942.70 PowerBall Plus jackpot in the draw on Tuesday, 23 September has come forward to claim his winnings.
The ticket was purchased in-store in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, with a R45 wager and manual selection.
The winning numbers were 10, 14, 25, 42 and 50 while the PowerBall Plus bonus number was 18.
‘DREAM COME TRUE’
The winner, who is both a husband and father in his 50s, is still reeling from the life-changing moment he discovered he had won a major lottery jackpot – a windfall he describes as both a dream come true and a generational blessing.
“I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes,” he said.
“To think that I would one day see so many zeros in my bank account – it still feels like a dream.”
The winner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said the win is about far more than money.
Buy a home
After decades of raising a family in a rented home, he says he can now finally buy a home and ensure his children have homes of their own in the future.
“For us, this is not just about financial freedom – it’s about ending the cycle,” he explained.
“The burden of children having to take care of their parents while they only start attending to their own basic needs later in life ends with me.”
He said his children will now be free to focus on their education and future careers without the pressure of becoming breadwinners too early.
“They must have the freedom to build the lives they want without the weight of providing for us, like I had to. Education will be their foundation, and I’ll make sure of that,” he said.
A Wish for His Mother
The winner also shared a deeply personal goal: to give his elderly mother, now in her 80s, a special gift.
“There is nothing more I can do for her now,” he said, “but one thing I’ve always wished for is to take her to a 5-star hotel. She deserves that experience, and I know she will love it.”
Despite his newfound wealth, the winner has no intention of quitting his job.
“I will continue working,” he said.
“This money is a blessing for my family, and I must preserve it.”
He and his wife also plan to travel – beginning with exploring South Africa before venturing abroad – but he insists that all leisure spending will come only from interest earned on investments, not the jackpot itself.
“We will take care of these winnings,” he added.
“They are meant to last, not just for us, but for our children and their children too.”
Congratulating the winner, ITHUBA CEO Charmaine Mabuza, said: “This is such a heart-warming story.
“We are thrilled to see the PowerBall Plus jackpot transforming lives in such a meaningful way.
“With careful planning and investment, this win will benefit generations to come.
“That is exactly what we aim for at ITHUBA – that our jackpots bring lasting, life-changing impact.”
