logo
That feeling when your bank calls ... to tell you you're a multimillionaire

That feeling when your bank calls ... to tell you you're a multimillionaire

The Herald9 hours ago

A panel beater who bagged more than R30m in the lotto jackpot draw on June 18 plans to make a significant change in his and his family's life.
'I plan to invest a significant amount of the winnings and donate some to a charitable cause,' he said.
Ithuba, the operator of the national lottery, announced that the second winner of the R78,977,677.80 lotto jackpot had come forward to claim his prize of R39,488,838.90.
The winner said he found out he won when he received a call from his bank.
'I just found out, and it feels absolutely surreal,' he said.
His winning ticket was purchased through a banking app with a R200 wager, using the quick pick selection method.
The winner, who works as a panel beater, said he plays the National Lottery games every week and has never won such a substantial amount of money.
'Though I'm a regular player, the thought of winning always sounded so far-fetched, but I had hope. Now, here I am, a multimillionaire lotto jackpot winner!' he said.
He shared that he first shared the news with his wife.
'I immediately called my wife to inform her of this stroke of luck,' he said.
Further, he plans to explore his passion.
'I love riding my bike in my spare time; this win gives me more freedom to explore my passions without limit.'
Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza congratulated the winner.
'Both winners have finally come forward to claim their winnings. This winner is still wrapping his head around his new multimillion-rand status, and we plan on helping him every step of the way.
'This new financial reality can be overwhelming, which is why we are not only passionate about responsible playing, but responsible winning too,' she said.
TimesLIVE

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Second R39m jackpot winner steps forward after bank alert
Second R39m jackpot winner steps forward after bank alert

The Citizen

time2 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Second R39m jackpot winner steps forward after bank alert

The second winner, a panelbeater and regular National Lottery player, walked away with R39.48 million. The wait is over. Ithuba has confirmed that both winners of the R78.9 million Lotto jackpot from the 18 June 2025 draw have now come forward. The second lucky player was alerted to his fortune by none other than his bank. 'It feels absolutely surreal' The second winner, a panel beater and regular National Lottery player, used a banking app to purchase his winning ticket for R200 using the Quick Pick method. He walked away with R39.48 million. 'I just found out, and it feels absolutely surreal,' he said after receiving the life-changing call. 'Although I'm a regular player, the thought of winning always sounded so far-fetched, but I had hope. Now, here I am, a multi-millionaire Lotto jackpot winner!' He said he immediately called his wife to share the news and is still processing the magnitude of the win. While he hasn't made concrete plans, he intends to invest a portion of the money, donate to charity, and indulge his love for biking. 'This win definitely gives me more freedom to explore my passions without limit,' he said. Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza congratulated both winners. 'This winner is still wrapping his head around his new multi-million status, and we plan on helping him every step of the way. 'We are passionate not only about responsible playing, but responsible winning too,' she said. ALSO READ: Could it be you? Woman bags R39 million – but another R39 million is still up for grabs First winner plans business growth Earlier this week, Ithuba announced that the first jackpot winner, a self-employed Johannesburg mother, had also claimed her R39.4 million share. She bought her ticket at a local superstore and intends to buy a house, a car, and invest in her business. With her winnings, the woman plans to secure her family's future, buy a home and a car, and invest further in her business. 'I'm excited to expand my business and purchase an industrial machine that will really elevate my business,' she said. 'And, of course, I plan to continue to Phanda, Pusha, Play!' Winners of R50 000 or more are entitled to free trauma counselling and financial advice from Ithuba. All National Lottery winnings are tax-free, and only players aged 18 and older may participate. 'Congratulations to both winners. This is what dreams are made of,' Mabuza concluded. NOW READ: Daily Lotto results: Wednesday, 25 June 2025

The rise and roadblocks of South Africa's green hydrogen economy
The rise and roadblocks of South Africa's green hydrogen economy

Mail & Guardian

time5 hours ago

  • Mail & Guardian

The rise and roadblocks of South Africa's green hydrogen economy

Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas made from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. (File photo) Africa is uniquely positioned to become a major player in President Cyril Ramaphosa stated this in his Green hydrogen is hydrogen gas made from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. It is 'green' because its production does not create pollution or carbon emissions, unlike other types of hydrogen produced from fossil fuels. According to Ramaphosa, green hydrogen is a way to 'marry our continent's mineral riches with our renewable energy endowments' to decarbonise particularly heavy industries, to create jobs, to stimulate investment and to unlock inclusive growth across the various borders. However, While the government continues to tout the economic potential of green hydrogen, including job creation, industrialisation and GDP growth, the coalition said that community organisations want full transparency, proper consultation and evidence of tangible benefits on the ground. In his speech, Ramaphosa noted that there are more than 52 large-scale green hydrogen projects that have been launched across Africa. To date, South Africa has invested more than R1.5 billion into its Hydrogen South Africa programme. A These include the cost factor, capital intensity and the high costs of financing relative to other energy sources, such as natural gas. H2Watch said that, in 2023, civil society had tabled its 'However, fears such as redirection from communities of water resources, displacement, destruction of marine life, environmental harm, lack of consultation and public resources being funnelled into risky, export-driven projects loomed larger.' After the release of the 'Over the last few years, we have seen the green hydrogen bubble bursting, both here and abroad,' noted Fatima Vally, the director of programmes with Vally said that a number of the green hydrogen developments that former minister of public works Patricia de Lille designated as special infrastructure projects in December 2022 'have either stalled or been paused'. H2Watch said that in an April 2024 letter to Macua, AngloAmerican indicated that 'a decision was made to demobilise the In July last year, the developer Enertrag, that was to establish an Mail & Guardian's enquiries. H2Watch said that, in an email response in March, a Sasol official reportedly stated that while green hydrogen 'represents a credible and potentially lucrative industrial horizon for South Africa in coming decades (particularly as a mid-horizon export sector and as a long-horizon replacement for gas), green H2 will not be imminently economical and will not solve our near-term transition challenge'. Matebello Motloung, Sasol's group media relations manager, told the M&G that it continued to view green hydrogen as a 'compelling, long-term opportunity for South Africa, essential both for sustainable industrialisation and for positioning the country as a global clean energy leader'. 'Our abundant renewable energy potential supports this vision. However, while we affirm that the narrative is correct, success depends fundamentally on timing.' The commercial-scale viability of most green-hydrogen applications is still several years away, Motloung said. 'That said, Sasol is taking deliberate steps — responsibly scaling up for when market, technology and regulatory conditions align, balancing carbon reduction with economic growth and shareholder value. 'A clear example is our Sasolburg facility, which is demonstrating renewables-powered electrolysis and low-emission hydrogen production at scale. This facility is laying the groundwork for a broader domestic green hydrogen economy.' Sasol remains firmly committed to green hydrogen, viewing it as a strategic, longer-term mission. 'We are pragmatic, recognising that full-scale, commercially viable deployment is some years ahead. We are investing now, with Sasolburg serving as a proof-point, and will continue to build the ecosystem. And we will scale in line with customer requirements.' According to the coalition, green hydrogen projects are stalling and not coming on stream. 'Unfortunately, government ministers and President Cyril Ramaphosa speak glowingly about green hydrogen projects, giving an impression that the developments are going ahead,' Vally said. 'Stonewalling and revelations that the projects were no longer proceeding is the response that community organisations that are part of … H2Watch have received when they enquired — away from the glare of the media — on what was happening in their localities.' The 'fragility' of South Africa's green hydrogen vision reflects global developments in the sector, H2Watch said. In Europe and Australia, green hydrogen projects have been delayed or scaled back due to high costs, weak demand and uncertain returns. Only about 10% of projects worldwide have reached a final investment decision. 'In China, electrolyser production is being cut due to oversupply and low market demand, raising doubts about the sector's near-term viability,' it said, noting that electrolysers are critical devices used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. The coalition maintained that unless corrected, the green hydrogen push threatens to replicate extractive, exclusionary development models witnessed in mining and large-scale renewable energy projects. Special economic zones — 'Worse still, civil society warns that South Africa may take on significant public debt to bankroll speculative projects that might never materialise. H2Watch is concerned that project announcements are always loud, yet the details — especially those affecting people's land, water and livelihoods — are not discussed openly.'

Why a review of the White Paper on Local Government matters
Why a review of the White Paper on Local Government matters

Mail & Guardian

time8 hours ago

  • Mail & Guardian

Why a review of the White Paper on Local Government matters

Local government are elected to provide services, but many struggle to do this. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy In April 2025, the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs released a discussion document on the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. The latter was a bold and necessary step in South Africa's democratic journey. Its main aim was to redefine and establish municipalities as development engines capable of delivering basic services and driving social and economic development. Yet, as the past 27 years have shown, its assumptions and prescriptions have not fully aligned with the complex realities facing municipalities and their residents. The persistent failures of local government are not merely technical glitches; they reflect deeper structural, financial and governance challenges. Therefore, a critical review of the White Paper is not just a bureaucratic exercise but a matter of urgent national importance. For millions of people, municipalities determine whether they have water, electricity, decent roads and a healthy and dignified life. They are the foundation upon which inclusive development, social justice and democratic legitimacy rest. A central problem facing local government is the widespread failure to deliver basic services consistently. Many are financially distressed and some argue this distress is rooted in the very assumptions and structural arrangements articulated in the Revenue One key assumption was that municipalities would be able to raise enough revenue to fund the bulk of their operational expenditures. It was anticipated that municipalities would finance 90% of their recurrent costs, including salaries, repairs, maintenance and other daily operating expenses, using their own revenue streams, such as property rates and service charges. In other words, the remaining 10% would be funded by national transfers. This assumption underpinned the funding model for local government. It implied a local government model that is financially self-sufficient and capable of meeting its constitutional developmental mandates. But years of evidence have shown that this model was overly optimistic — if not fundamentally flawed. Municipalities in rural or economically marginalised areas struggle with their revenue collection because ratepayers can't or won't pay. The former is linked to high unemployment and poverty levels, while the latter could be attributed to administrative weaknesses. Apart from the metros, debt collection rate ranges from an average of between Many rely heavily on intergovernmental transfers that are insufficient to cover operational and capital needs. The over-reliance on property rates and service charges has also exposed deep inequalities, with wealthier urban municipalities faring better than rural municipalities that remain trapped in a cycle of underfunding and As such, the anticipated 90% self-funding benchmark is a structural revenue shortfall that remains elusive in many municipalities with cascading effects on service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, and overall governance. The inability to generate adequate revenue has direct consequences for service delivery. Countrywide, people face persistent water shortages, unreliable electricity supply, deteriorating roads, and poor waste management. Problems with governance It is no secret that many municipalities suffer from chronic governance problems, such as the lack of accountability, political instability and infighting, cadre deployment, poor consequence management, and skills shortages. Back in 1998, the White Paper envisaged professional, accountable local administrations; instead, many councils today are beset by instability, political interference and a lack of technical expertise. This undermines both strategic planning and day-to-day operations. The funding model has inadvertently entrenched spatial and economic inequalities. Affluent municipalities with a stronger revenue base can deliver better services and maintain their infrastructure, while poorer municipalities continue to lag further behind. This perpetuates the legacy of apartheid-era spatial planning and undermines the goals of equitable development and developmental local government. For the average person, the failures of local government are not abstract policy issues; they are realities that shape daily lives. In short, the effectiveness of local government is a 'litmus test' for the health of the country's democracy. When municipalities fail, people pay the price, and the consequences are immediate and profound: Dysfunctional municipalities deter investment, hinder local businesses and restrict job creation, thereby exacerbating poverty and inequality. Without reliable municipal services, people are forced to use unsafe water sources and makeshift sanitation, with dire health implications. Power outages, potholes and crumbling infrastructure disrupt livelihoods, hinder economic activity and erode public trust. Poor waste management and inadequate environmental health services expose people to disease and environmental hazards. When local government is seen as corrupt or incompetent, it undermines legitimacy and trust, social cohesion and fuels disillusionment with democracy itself. Differentiated approach It is clear that the White Paper must be comprehensively reviewed and reformed. This moment also creates an opportunity to rethink the local government funding model critically. A re-imagined national policy on developmental local government must take seriously the funding model that is supposed to bring it to life. A differentiated approach is needed, one that recognises the local government history, the diverse capacities and contexts of municipalities. This may require increased and better-targeted national transfers, especially for poorer municipalities, alongside innovative approaches to local revenue generation. Such approaches may typically include a review of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations Framework to pursue a truly equitable sharing and allocation of revenue raised nationally. Reforming local government through a revised White Paper must also be part of a broader strategy to address spatial and economic structural inequalities. This must include targeted investment in infrastructure, support for local economic development and measures to expand the municipal rate base over time. But improving municipal governance will require both political will and systemic reforms that seek to professionalise local government and strengthen oversight mechanisms to root out corruption. Appointing skilled, qualified officials — rather than prioritising comradeship or political loyalty — must become the norm. This will go a long way toward strengthening local governance and accountability. As we look to the future, we must learn from the past, confront uncomfortable truths, and forge a new consensus on municipalities' role, funding, and functioning. This will go a long way in ensuring that all municipalities are 'fit for purpose' and capable of addressing the ever-evolving needs for all effectively. Dr Lungelwa Kaywood is a local government specialist and postdoctoral fellow in the Chair in Urban Law and Sustainability Governance at the Faculty of Law at Stellenbosch University.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store