Cleaner cleans up at Lotto
2010-02-14 23:09
Cape Town – Winning a huge sum of money must be a very, very pleasant experience - especially if you were just getting by each month.
Stanley Philander, 52, a deaf and mute cleaner at a hardware shop in Wynberg, on Friday night won over R91m in the national lottery's PowerBall game.
This is the largest amount which has been paid out by the Lotto.
The jackpot had rolled over since 22 November and with each passing week grabbed the country's imagination.
Philander's wife, Diana, 50, is also deaf and mute. They live with their children, Logan, 9, and Kirsten, 6, in a wooden house in a family member's back yard, apparently somewhere in the Southern suburbs.
However, with the good news comes a bit of bad as well.
Great challenges, stress, lack of safety and pressure from family and the community is what awaits Cape Town's new instant millionaire.
These are the typical things a needy person will experience when he suddenly becomes a millionaire, according to several Cape Town psychologists speaking to Die Burger.
Moved to 'undisclosed location'
Apparently after they were approached for money by several people in the community, they're now staying at an undisclosed location.
Several residents of Wynberg, when asked, recognised the man as the deaf man who'd won the "lotto".
According to Dr Petri van der Merwe, a psychiatrist at Cape Gate Medi-Clinic, the couple's new wealth can bring many negative and positive consequences.
"Now they can fulfil their dreams and improve their standard of living. On the other hand, they can experience a lot of pressure from the community and family. That can become very stressful."
Dr Ester Niemand, a clinical psychologist, said the family probably feel extremely overwhelmed, helpless and a little lost since they became aware of their new status.
It's possible that they could feel very defenceless because they don't have control over the situation.
Appointing a financial advisor would be a good idea, but even that could involve problems.
"Many people will be able to exploit them."
According to Niemand, it wasn't a wise decision go public with the winner's identity.