WATCH: The first R100 000 winner draw of 2023!

Congratulations to Nick Holleman from Cape Town, who was the lucky winner of the first of three R100 000 draws this year.

When Nick Holleman was contacted by the NSRI’s Lianne Daniels-Lategan, alongside NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson and other NSRI head office staff, he was “in a meeting”.

“I didn’t realise who it was, so I asked her to please call back later,” says Nick. “She followed up with an SMS, to which I replied ‘Whaaaaat?!’ We arranged to chat soon afterwards, and I had to do a little due diligence to ensure it wasn’t a scam, but she was quickly able to put me at ease.”

Nick has been supporting the NSRI by donating R100 per month since about 2014. “I believe that the work that the NSRI does is important. We have a long, beautiful coastline which presents wonderful opportunities to explore and enjoy. The NSRI helps to make doing so less dangerous.” How did it feel to win R100 000? “Quite odd! Exciting, and slightly embarrassing. And quite a relief, ultimately!” he says.

Nick lives in Cape Town’s southern suburbs with his blended family: “My wife and I got married last year and recently moved in together with our combined five kids. I manage a software development team. Apart from that, I do woodwork and love getting out into the mountains.”

The few friends and family he has shared the news of his windfall with have responded with incredulity, joy, “and, in a few cases, I suspect a little envy.” He says the prize money will be a big help towards finishing off the renovations for their larger home.

To all NSRI staff and volunteers, Nick says, “Just keep doing what you do. It's a critical public service and I'm deeply grateful.” In return, the NSRI would like to thank Nick for his long standing support, and congratulate him on his prize.

You can enter the running for the next two R100 000 draws this year, in September and December respectively, as well as the monthly draws of 5X R10 000 (R50 000 total), simply by signing up to donate as little as R25 per month to the NSRI. Click here to enter.