Joburg’s R2.2 Million Mystery: Did You Forget You Won the PowerBall Plus?

A local shopper struck it lucky with the PowerBall Plus in November 2024, but eight months later, the money’s still sitting unclaimed. Is the winner out there… or is the ticket long gone?

There’s a ghost jackpot haunting Johannesburg right now. A PowerBall Plus win, worth a life-changing R2 284 810, has remained untouched since 12 November 2024. The lucky ticket was purchased at Mayfield Square in the south of the city, but whoever owns it has yet to come forward.

And with the deadline to claim ticking away, ITHUBA, the national lottery operator, is officially on the hunt.

Where is the missing millionaire?

Let’s break it down. South Africa’s lottery laws give winners exactly 365 days to claim their prize. That means if the winning stub isn’t verified by 12 November 2025, the cash disappears into the ether, likely back into the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.

What makes this even more frustrating? If that money had been claimed on the day of the draw, the winner would’ve earned interest on top of their windfall by now. That’s money lost for every day the prize goes unclaimed.

So the big question remains: Is the winner simply unaware… or is the ticket lost forever?

A local ticket, a national mystery

Mayfield Square in Johannesburg might not seem like the kind of place that gives birth to multi-million rand dreams, but it’s happened before. PowerBall Plus draws take place every Tuesday and Friday, alongside the regular PowerBall game. This time, the winning ticket slipped quietly into someone’s shopping bag on a November afternoon.

ITHUBA says there’s been no activity from the winner, which has fuelled speculation online. Social media has done what it does best: swirl up theories.

“Probably tossed with the till slips!”
“Check your jeans’ pockets from last year, fam.”
“Imagine only finding out in December.”

But this isn’t just digital banter. It’s a real possibility. Forgotten tickets, especially when bought impulsively, are a known cause of unclaimed lottery winnings. And if the ticket’s faded, water-damaged, or accidentally binned, there’s no way to recover it without the physical stub.

If you bought a ticket at Mayfield Square, check again

ITHUBA urges all players to double-check old tickets, even those stashed in drawers, wallets, or handbags. “People forget, misplace, or dismiss them,” one official said, “and then the deadline creeps up.”

South Africa’s lottery results are published daily. Here’s a quick reminder of when you should be checking:

• Monday to Sunday: Daily Lotto

• Tuesdays and Fridays: PowerBall and PowerBall Plus

• Wednesdays and Saturdays: Lotto and Lotto Plus draws

So yes, there’s a chance your casual Tuesday night ticket from last November might still be a golden one. But you’ll never know unless you check.

Tick tock…

There’s no telling what the winner could have done with R2.2 million. Paid off a house, launched a business, or even taken the family abroad. But unless they come forward before 12 November 2025, it will remain just that, a what-if.

If that mystery winner is you or someone you know, the time to claim is now. Your millionaire moment is literally one slip of paper away.

Also read: From Alberton to AI Stardom: Kiara Nirghin’s Bold Leap Into Silicon Valley

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Source: The South African

Featured Image: iStock