National Lotteries Commission and Ithuba Dismiss Powerball Manipulation Allegations Amid Social Media Storm
The National Lotteries Commission and Ithuba have dismissed Powerball manipulation allegations amid a social media storm, with officials emphasising robust safeguards, independent audits, and the integrity of the RNG system while addressing calls for a return to live draws and clarifying that SIU investigations focus on grant corruption rather than lottery operations.
NLC and Ithuba Respond to Baseless Claims
The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has expressed deep concern over the spread of inaccurate and misleading statements on social media platforms regarding the Powerball draw. In a statement released on 20 August 2025, the NLC rejected suggestions that the lottery is manipulated, asserting that sufficient safeguards are in place to ensure the integrity of the draws. Commissioner Jodi Scholtz highlighted the distinction between the regulator and the operator, Ithuba, noting that the NLC oversees but does not conduct the lottery. “There are enough safeguards to ensure the integrity of the lottery numbers,” Scholtz said during an interview on SA FM on 21 August 2025.
Ithuba, the National Lottery operator, echoed these sentiments in a strongly worded response on 21 August 2025, labelling the allegations “baseless and untrue.” Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations Michelle van Trotsenburg addressed the claims head-on, explaining that social media rumours alleging all major winners since 2020 are from Absa or FNB are factually incorrect. “We are aware of the misleading and factually incorrect information currently circulating on social media regarding the legitimacy of lottery winners,” van Trotsenburg stated. To counter this, Ithuba provided a list of nine Division One winners since 2020 from various locations and platforms, including retail stores in Roodepoort, Dalview, Benoni, Bitou, Manenberg, and others, demonstrating diversity beyond the two banks.
The uproar began escalating in early August 2025, with viral posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok claiming rigged results and questioning the absence of live draws. Users pointed to patterns in winning tickets, suggesting manipulation favouring certain banks or insiders. One widely shared post from @LeSudanese on 20 August accused the lottery of being “manipulated until they return to a live draw,” garnering thousands of views and shares. Similar sentiments from @wybra in December 2024 resurfaced, alleging systemic corruption in lottery operations.
RNG System and Safeguards Explained
Both the NLC and Ithuba detailed the lottery’s operational integrity, emphasising the Random Number Generator (RNG) system implemented since 2017. Van Trotsenburg described it as “safer than using a ball machine because there’s no human intervention.” Ticket sales close at 8:30 PM, with the draw occurring at 9:00 PM via RNG—a separate system from the central lottery database to prevent any influence. Results are verified by a dedicated draw team, independent auditors, and NLC oversight before being aired.
This digital shift, based on international best practices, allowed uninterrupted operations during the COVID-19 period when live draws were impractical. “We’ve been able to show efficiencies and minimal human intervention,” van Trotsenburg added, noting that many global lotteries use similar technology without live shows. She dismissed calls for reverting to ball machines, citing their maintenance issues and past failures during live broadcasts.
The NLC acknowledged public calls for live draws and indicated discussions with the current and future operators. “There has been quite a concerted call to have the live draws come back. These are matters that we’ll have to discuss with both the current operator and the next lottery operator,” Scholtz said.
SIU Investigations Focus on Grants, Not Draws
Social media confusion has conflated the lottery draw process with ongoing Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probes into NLC grant corruption. The SIU, on 18 August 2025, secured a Special Tribunal order for former NLC board member William Elisha Huma to repay R21 million in misappropriated funds linked to fraudulent grants for non-profits like Samaritan Initiative and Reagile. This follows a February 2025 preservation order freezing R10 million from Huma’s luxury property sale.
The SIU’s broader investigation, authorised by Proclamation R37 of 2020 and expanded in subsequent years, has uncovered over R1.4 billion in irregular grants since 2014. Recent actions include a R24.9 million preservation order in May 2025 against assets tied to NLC corruption and interdicts preventing payouts to implicated officials. However, these focus on grant misuse, not lottery draw manipulation. The NLC clarified that SIU findings relate to board members and beneficiaries siphoning funds meant for community projects, not the integrity of Powerball or Lotto results.
Winners’ Diversity and Privacy Protections
Ithuba refuted claims of winner bias, attributing higher digital wins to convenience—up to 60% of sales now occur via apps, with Absa and FNB being early adopters. “Every single ticket has an equal chance of winning,” van Trotsenburg said, listing winners from various banks and stores to illustrate fairness. The operator is obliged to protect winners’ identities unless consented, preventing public disclosure but assuring all are legitimate. To build trust, Ithuba offered media tours of their processes and invited scrutiny. “We are happy to share the process and can guarantee everything is above board,” van Trotsenburg added.
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