Woman wins over R1.2 million at GrandWest

A resident of Strandfontein in Cape Town, 63-year-old Geraldine van Wyk* never imagined winning big on the slot machines at GrandWest. She couldn’t believe it when, on Tuesday, 21 January 2020 at 11.30am, she did just that. The Sunstriker machine she was playing on lit up, the music played – and she won R1 288 000!

Van Wyk, who used to work in a local food shop, has been playing machines at GrandWest three times a week for the past three years. She finds it relaxing. "It is my time out," she says. "It is a social experience – I have many friends at GrandWest. I always play with friends or family."

Feeling lucky one Tuesday, she asked her granddaughter to accompany her to GrandWest. "She is my lucky charm," says Van Wyk. "I played for a little while and then we went to the Spur for breakfast," she says. "Afterwards, I went back and moved on to the Sunstriker machines. I normally play the second or third machine – this time, it was the second one. After spending about R1 300 in R5, R6 and R7 slot options, the music suddenly started playing the special song that signals a win," she says. "I didn’t even realise what had happened or hear the music until my granddaughter said: "Look at the screen.’ Only then did I realise I’d won. I was totally dumbstruck – I saw so many numbers on the screen!" she says.

Onlookers crowded her. "I remember one guy saying: "Come, we can all go to the Spur!’," recalls Van Wyk. The slot manager then advised her to leave her card in the machine, which locks when there is a win, and wait. Other managers soon arrived to discuss the logistics and offer financial advice. "I completely lost my appetite and couldn’t eat anything they offered me," she says.

Van Wyk plans to use the money to pay her science student granddaughter’s university fees. She’ll also pay off her house and invest some of the money. Having never been outside Cape Town, she plans to take her family on a camping holiday to Club Mykonos. The MVG office at GrandWest offered to help with her travel plans.

"When my granddaughter called my husband at work to tell him that I’d won, she first asked him if he was sitting or standing. When she told him about my win, he couldn’t believe it," says Van Wyk. "My granddaughter says it was a special experience."

Van Wyk has been driving a Toyota Tazz for about 17 years. "I won’t upgrade because it is such a solid car," says the beaming winner.

"It’s fantastic when we have such a big winner. We love it," says Elouise Matthys, PR and Promotions Manager at GrandWest. "We wish Geraldine everything of the best and want to thank her for being a loyal friend of GrandWest."