What would you do if you won R1 million? Would you spend it, invest it or give it to charity? For many the answers to these questions are only in their dreams, but for RE/MAX Infoglobe Sales Associate, Bertus Myburgh, the dream became reality by winning the BetterLife Dream Lottery and walking away with a cheque for R1 million.
Through the BetterLife, BetterRewards programme, real estate agents received a scratch card for every qualifying Offer to Purchase they submitted to the bond originator, giving them a chance to enter the draw. A group of 471 agents secured places in the nine regional draws which were held to narrow down the field and increase the agents’ chances of winning the grand prise. Approximately ten agents from each province got into the final draw, with Myburgh the second last to make it in. The finalists’ names were printed onto the Dream Machine Wheel of Fortune which was spun by BetterLife Group CEO, Rudi Botha at a gala event held at the Protea Fire & Ice at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.
“This could not have happened at a more perfect time. My wife and I were in a financial crisis when we first started with RE/MAX; however we have slowly been able to get back onto our feet to some degree. We have two children and are currently in the process of building a modest two-bedroom family home, but we were not in a position to be able to complete the home in the way we wanted. Adjustments had to be made to scale down, which meant the kids sharing a room, as well as foregoing some other features. My wife and I have been praying for a solution since the first BetterLife draw and now God has answered those prayers. Winning the money means being able to change the layout of the home to make it a bit bigger, adding an extra room so the children and each have their own space and we are able to finish off the garden, driveway and other elements which we wouldn’t have been able to do,” says an elated Myburgh, standing on the site of his soon-to-be-upgraded family home.
Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, says a big congratulations to Myburgh. “It is amazing to see a life changed in a moment. As real estate professionals we often have a front row seat and the privilege of seeing people’s lives change for the better as they realise their homeownership dreams. Through the BetterRewards programme, not only are clients lives changed, but agents too,” says Goslett.
Myburgh adds that apart from upgrading his home, he will be giving 10% of his winnings to the church, as well as sponsoring part of Jenny Venter (BetterLife consultant) and her son’s trip to the USA because he remembers her saying once before that she couldn’t afford the total cost. “It was through prayer that we received this money. It is God’s money and I want to honour Him by giving back and helping out where I can,” he concludes.
