Bloemfontein PowerBall winner ‘checked ticket 30 times’ before believing he’d won R121 million
· The South African
Back in 2020, under previous national lottery operator ITHUBA, a Bloemfontein man in his 60s won a R121 million PowerBall jackpot.
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He’d bought his ticket at Belvera Supermarket in Bloemspruit.
He checked it roughly 30 times before believing it was real, telling reporters at the time he “nearly had a heart attack” when the numbers first came up.
He wasn’t a regular PowerBall player, but did play Daily Lotto often. He used some of his Daily Lotto winnings toward the ticket that changed his life.
What the PowerBall winner from Bloemfontein did with the money
Rather than going on a spending spree, the winner chose early retirement, helped his wife finish her degree, and made a donation to his church.
He credited the financial advice ITHUBA provided at the time.
His family reportedly didn’t believe him at first when he shared the news.
It stands out as a rare story with a genuinely happy ending for someone who came into a life-changing sum of money.
Why this story still matters today
Under Sizekhaya’s current rules, winners of R50 000 or more now receive free trauma counselling and financial advice as part of their payout.
While some jackpot winners ‘get it right’ with their money, it raises the question of how many others haven’t been so fortunate.
I think about this PowerBall winner from Bloemfontein whenever a new jackpot winner makes the headlines. A level head seems to matter just as much as any advice on offer.
Do you think this winner’s calm approach came from planning, luck, or both?
Tell us in the comments, Mzansi …