In a heartwarming turn of events, a South African shopper has won a life-changing R250,000 in Payfast by Network’s exciting online shopping competition. The grand prize, which was awarded to a dedicated Payfast customer, is set to help her care for her loved ones and support her entrepreneurial dreams.
The winner, Melissa from the Eastern Cape, said the win couldn’t have come at a better time. “This prize means everything to me. My mom needs knee surgery, and I would like to help cover the medical expenses. This money is going straight to helping her. It’s also going to be a game-changer as I pursue my dream of starting my own business. If there’s anything left, I’ll definitely treat myself to something special.”
The competition, which ran for a month from 21 February to 21 March 2025, allowed South Africans to enter simply by shopping online with Payfast at participating merchants. Each completed transaction automatically entered the shopper into the prize draw, giving everyone a chance to win big.
The winning entry? A simple air fryer purchased from Takealot. “I love shopping online – it’s so convenient,” the winner shared. “I use Takealot a lot, so when I found out I’d won with my purchase, I couldn’t believe it. It was a huge surprise.”
Payfast is thrilled to be able to give back to its loyal customers and help drive the growth of online commerce in South Africa. The competition was designed to celebrate the growing number of consumers embracing digital shopping.
We are proud to have been able to support not only our customers but also our merchants by driving traffic to their platforms. We’re excited for the winner’s future and wish her the best as she uses this prize to make a real difference in her life.
