A Pretoria man’s hopes of claiming an R42-million Lotto jackpot from 2016 have been dashed after an investigation by Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka revealed that he was not the rightful winner.
Pretoria Lotto ticketholder loses R42 million jackpot – Here’s how
As reported by Pretoria Rekord, Alex Magagula claimed that he had purchased a Lotto ticket and won the R42 million jackpot on 9 September 2016.
He attempted to redeem the ticket at a retailer in Gezina, Pretoria but encountered a machine malfunction during the reading process.
The Technical Error That Cost Magagula R42 million Lotto Jackpot
Following the malfunction, Magagula turned to another terminal at the Sinoville Post Office the next day, where he received a payment of R37 instead of the full jackpot amount.
At this point, he lodged a complaint against the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).
Public Protector Investigation
The case reached the attention of Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka in October 2018.
The investigation focused on the alleged failure of the DTIC to address Magagula’s complaint against the NLC.
Investigation Findings
Gcaleka’s investigation revealed that the initial terminal in Gezina did not validate Magagula’s ticket.
The only validation occurred at the Sinoville Post Office, where he received the correct payout of R37.50.
Ithuba Holdings, the National Lottery operator, confirmed that Magagula’s ticket was not a winning jackpot ticket, as the actual jackpot had been won later.
Security Mechanisms and NLC Response
The NLC highlighted the security measures in place, including the fact that Lotto machines are programmed not to pay out large sums of money.
Instead, winners are provided with coupons instructing them to visit Ithuba’s offices for payment. The NLC emphasised that the word “Jackpot” does not appear on the machine, even if a player wins the jackpot.
Acting Public Protector Gcaleka concluded the investigation, stating that there was no evidence to support the allegations that the DTIC had failed to address Magagula’s complaint against the NLC.