Niece ‘steals’ Lotto win

28 January 2012
Kathryn Kimberley

Picture: FILE

THERE is more than  R8-million in *Simphiwe’s bank account, yet he lives in poverty  in a rusty shack on the outskirts of East London.
The Lotto ticket reflecting  his R10m win remains a  painful reminder of the money that drove a wedge into  his once close-knit family.
The Saturday Dispatch decided not to disclose Simphiwe’s identity for fear of jeopardising his safety. 
After winning the lottery,  55-year-old Simphiwe said he  had always planned to share  his new-found wealth by  buying his family members  the luxuries they never had.  He said he did not expect  them to steal from him. 
However, in just six days,  almost R2m was swiped  from his savings account.  His balance now stands at  R8m but he has been advised not to utilise the funds  until the outcome of the  court case in which he has  accused his niece of theft  and fraud. 
In the meantime, the  younger woman and her  husband have flitted off to  Dublin, Ireland .
Court papers before the  East London High Court explain how his niece allegedly  transferred large amounts of  cash from her uncle’s bank  account without his knowledge. 
About R1m was deposited  into her husband’s account,  while R600000 allegedly  went to her brother. 
While the niece is cited in  court documents as the first  respondent, her brother and  husband are named respectively as the second and  third respondents.
Now Simphiwe, who lives  in Braelyn extension, cannot  upgrade his lifestyle until  the court case is over – a  matter which could drag on  for more than a year.
As a result of his niece  having access to the account  into which the lottery money  was paid, the remainder of  the cash was placed into  new investment accounts until the court matter has been  finalised. 

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