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Lotto ticket sales bonanza

HAPPY RETURN: Gidani chief executive officer Bongani Khumalo and Peggy Mgwabane. Pic. Mbuzeni Zulu. 05/10/2007. © Sowetan.
HAPPY RETURN: Gidani chief executive officer Bongani Khumalo and Peggy Mgwabane. Pic. Mbuzeni Zulu. 05/10/2007. © Sowetan.

Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

Rosetta Shabangu, 40, of Chiawelo is not bothered that she was not the first person to buy the new lotto ticket on Friday because she thinks she has the winning numbers.

Shabangu bought her ticket just after midday at a chain store in Protea Gardens.

The first person to buy the new lotto ticket did so 20 seconds after 6am at a Sasol garage in Midrand, Johannesburg on Friday.

Two hours later Gidani, the new Lotto operator had sold a whopping 1,2million tickets country wide. By 2pm more than 1,5million tickets had been sold.

The first draw is scheduled for October 13 and a R15million jackpot seems to be attracting hordes of lotto punters. There will be two draws weekly - on Wednesday and Saturday.

Punters like Shabangu are just happy that the lotto is back, and still costs R2,50 a bet and an extra R1 for the Lotto plus and the sports stake.

Standing in a long queue in Shoprite at the Protea Gardens Mall, Shabangu said that she was excited about the return of the Lotto.

"I have waited for this moment for months now. I have high hopes that I will win the Lotto."

She said the last time she played the lotto before it was suspended about seven months ago, she had matched three numbers.

She said she was hoping to hit the jackpot this time around.

Another punter Tebogo Tabane, 30, also of Protea Glen said: "I know for sure that the Lotto will change the lives of many South Africans. It is a good way of gambling and winning cash without going to the casino or something."

Gidani re-launched the Lotto last month, six months after it was suspended following Uthingo's decision to challenge the awarding of the tender to Gidani.

The Pretoria High Court then ordered Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa to review all the bidders following claims of irregularities in the awarding of the tender to run the Lotto.

Last month, Mpahlwa announced that Gidani would manage the Lotto.

Gidani chief executive officer Bongani Khumalo congratulated the punters for taking part in making people's lives and that of the company easier.

He told crowds at the launch that the return of the Lotto was going to change the lives of many people.

"The National Lotto Distribution Trust Fund will help the poor.

"At least 34percent of the profits will go to ensuring that we make their lives easier," said Khumalo.

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