Ithuba rejects blame as lottery payout dispute sparks confusion for winners

Thousands of South Africans who regularly try their luck on the National Lottery have found themselves caught in the middle of a growing dispute between the country’s former and current lottery operators.

The Citizens has reported that Former National Lottery operator Ithuba has now publicly pushed back against suggestions that it is responsible for delays affecting players who purchased winning tickets before the recent handover to new operator Sizekhaya.

A transition meant to be seamless

The change in lottery operators was expected to be a routine administrative process. However, concerns emerged this week when Sizekhaya warned that certain historical winning ticket information needed for prize verification was proving difficult to process.

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— Sizekhaya (@Sizekhaya_RF) June 2, 2026

According to Sizekhaya Chief Operations Officer Fundi Sithebe, the company was worried that some players could face delays accessing winnings because information required to validate claims was not immediately available.

The statement raised alarm among lottery participants, particularly those holding tickets bought before 1 June 2026, the date when Sizekhaya officially took over operations.

For many South Africans, lottery winnings—whether large jackpots or smaller prizes—can make a meaningful difference in household finances. Any delay in payment naturally attracts public attention and concern.

Ithuba says all required information was handed over

Ithuba has firmly rejected the suggestion that it failed to provide the necessary records.

The former operator says it completed all obligations linked to the transition and submitted the required historical prize data to both the regulator and Sizekhaya on 1 June 2026.

According to Ithuba, the transfer included details of all outstanding winning tickets awaiting payment. The company further stated that receipt of the information was acknowledged by both the regulator and the new operator.

Citizens reports that Ithuba stressed that it followed all prescribed procedures and remains confident that its responsibilities during the handover were fulfilled correctly.

Why is verification taking longer?

While Sizekhaya acknowledges receiving the data files, it argues that receiving information and being able to immediately use it are two different matters.

The company says testing and validation processes uncovered several issues that require further investigation. These reportedly include records with missing draw information, incomplete data fields and inconsistencies linked to payment status.

According to Sizekhaya, these irregularities are slowing the validation process and making it more difficult to confirm certain prize claims quickly.

The operator says work continues to upload, review and test the historical data, with efforts underway to resolve outstanding questions as soon as possible.

National Lottery players left waiting

The public dispute has inevitably shifted attention to the people most affected: the players.

Before the transition, Sizekhaya had informed retailers and lottery vendors that winners holding tickets purchased before 1 June 2026 would be able to claim their prizes from 4 June.

That timeline now appears to have been complicated by the ongoing verification process.

While neither operator has suggested that legitimate winnings will be lost, uncertainty around payment timelines has left some players anxious and searching for answers.

Public reaction grows online

On social media, reactions have been mixed. Some lottery players have expressed frustration about the delays, arguing that winners should not be affected by operational issues between companies.

Others have called for greater transparency from both operators and the National Lotteries Commission, saying clear communication is essential when public trust is involved.

The National Lottery remains one of South Africa’s most widely recognised gaming products, and confidence in the system depends heavily on winners receiving payouts efficiently and without unnecessary complications.