A R100 million [1] South African Lotto jackpot remains unclaimed following a draw held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 [2].
The missing windfall represents one of the largest prizes of the year, sparking a search for the ticket holder in Johannesburg. Because the prize is so substantial, the delay in claiming the funds draws attention to the habits of lottery players and the security of high-value tickets.
Ithuba, the operator of South Africa's National Lottery, said the prize is still available [1]. The winning ticket was a Quick-Pick purchased at the Checkers Hyper located in Sandton City [3].
This specific jackpot is the third-highest National Lottery jackpot recorded so far in 2026 [4]. The operator has not provided a specific deadline for the claim in the available reports, but the prize continues to sit in limbo while authorities seek the winner.
Sandton City is a major commercial hub in Johannesburg, meaning the ticket could have been bought by a local resident, or a visitor to the shopping center. The use of a Quick-Pick means the numbers were randomly generated by the system rather than selected by the player.
While other international lotteries have reported similar unclaimed prizes recently, Ithuba said it is focused on the specific ticket sold at the Sandton City branch [1]. The operator continues to urge the public to check their tickets from the May 6 draw [2].
“A R100 million South African Lotto jackpot remains unclaimed”
The failure to claim such a high-value prize often stems from lost tickets or players failing to check their numbers promptly. In the context of the South African National Lottery, this event highlights the scale of 2026's payouts, as this is already the third-largest jackpot of the year. If the prize remains unclaimed past the legal window, the funds are typically rolled over into future draws or allocated to the National Lottery Trust for good causes.
