R75million in lotto winnings unclaimed

A total of R75 million in lottery winnings has not been claimed, national lottery operator Gidani said on Tuesday.

"Players have 365 days from the winning draw date of a particular game in which they can claim their prizes," spokeswoman Dudu Ndendwa said in a statement.

Among the unclaimed prizes was a R21m lotto jackpot prize won on March, 19, 2014. The ticket, bought in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, would expire on March 19. The winning numbers were 2, 9, 21, 29, 42 and 47.

A total of R27.7m was won by someone who bought a ticket in the Eastern Cape on August 12. The other unclaimed winnings are R10m drawn on February 11 and R16.5m drawn on July 30.

Draw results were available on the lottery's website and people could also phone the Gidani Player Helpline on 0800-777-777.

"We also remind players to sign their tickets after each purchase to minimise any misfortune," said Ndendwa.