Bubbly and beloved television presenter, radio DJ, event MC and actress Pearl Modiadie clinched the elusive R250,000 jackpot prize in the latest edition of the star-studded SABC1 game show Deal or No Deal Celebrity, proudly sponsored by LottoStar.
Although some of the brave Mzansi A-listers who have put their hearts on the line for worthy causes in Deal or No Deal Celebrity came very close to winning a quarter of a million rand, Pearl is only the second contender to beat the banker. She joined the ranks of Wheel of Fortune South Africa host Rorisang Thandekiso, whose perfect gameplay earned Paediatric Care Africa R250,000 in April 2024.
Pearl, an avid fan of the Deal or No Deal television franchise, approached the exhilarating game of chance from a place of deep-rooted love. In the hopes of giving back to the community of Thembisa, where she was born and raised, Pearl poured her soul and spirit into every decision she made in the Deal or No Deal hot seat. Despite being tempted to change her mind, her first big call was to pick briefcase number 18 as the bargaining chip to solicit funds on behalf of the Tshepang Care Centre, a non-profit organisation in Tembisa.
The number 18 holds immense personal significance for Pearl. On September 18, she was blessed with insurmountable love and held her son, Lewatle, in her arms for the first time.
Before Pearl started opening the remaining 19 briefcases held by the show’s Money Models, which would determine the banker’s offers to buy her very special unopened briefcase, she further explained to host Katlego Maboe how Letwatle’s presence in her life inspired her to support her chosen charity: “I am a mom. I don’t think any child should be worried about where their next meal comes from.”
The Tshepang Care Centre was founded in 2013 after a compassionate caretaker, Miss Sarah Sibiya, and her family witnessed heartbreaking stories in Thembisa’s Vusimuzi informal settlement, where unemployment is rife. Initially, sent by the word of God to serve the poor, they set out to supply destitute families with monthly groceries and clothing donations, but it soon became apparent that most of the children in Vusimuzi were orphans or stayed with grandparents who did not have the means to provide regular meals. Some kids even had to scour nearby dumpsites for food.
What started as a makeshift corrugated iron shelter built by Miss Sophie and volunteers to provide these kids with one decent meal per day has since blossomed into a haven that meets the nutritional and developmental needs of more than 500 children, ages 1 to 20.
Pearl’s desire to bankrupt the banker for this worthy cause stood her in good stead throughout the different rounds of opening suitcases. In a rare feat, she kept the three highest possible numbers on the Deal or No Deal Money tree alive round after round, and finally, it transpired that Pearl’s suitcase number 18 contained either R100,000 or R250,000.
She decided to take the gamble, dismissing the banker’s bid of R155,000 for her suitcase. And her instinct was spot on. The R250,000 was inside her very special briefcase.
A grateful and astonished Pearl described winning the jackpot for her charity on Deal or No Deal Celebrity as a profoundly personal and faith-driven moment: “The winning number I chose is my son’s birthday. He is God’s answered prayer, and I believe there is a reason why we come to this earth on the day we do. That day shapes our destiny. In that crucial moment on the show, I trusted my gut, leaned on my faith, and followed what felt right in my heart. It paid off most incredibly, so this win is a reminder that when we trust in something greater than ourselves, switch off the noise and listen to our inner voice, amazing things can happen.”
Following Pearl’s R250,000 donation to her charity, Deal or No Deal Celebrity has now funnelled over R1,8 million to charities across South Africa in less than a year.
Maria Pavli, Head of Marketing at LottoStar, commented: “LottoStar is delighted about Pearl’s heartfelt winning moment and how it will benefit the Tshepang Care Centre. At LottoStar, we consider it a privilege to sponsor Deal or No Deal Celebrity and the incredible charities it champions. Making a difference is at the heart of what we do. Together, we look forward to changing lives and spreading positivity throughout South Africa because, at LottoStar, charity is our privilege, not an obligation.”
Among the big-name stars who have struck impressive deals for their charities to date are sports presenter Vusiwe Ncgobo, who won R176,001 for Surgeons for Little Lives. 947 radio star Bolele Polisa also bagged R100,000 for Imagine Scholar, while influencer Khosi Twala’s R100,000 winnings went to Hearts of Hope.
Deal or No Deal Celebrity, produced by Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios, premieres on SABC 1 on Saturdays at 18:00. The rebroadcasts are on on S3 on Sundays at 16:30 and SABC 1 on Tuesdays at 22:00, and you can also watch the latest episode on SABC+.
LottoStar is Licensed by the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator. No U18. National Responsible Gambling Programme 0800 006 008. Ts & Cs apply. All games are fixed-odds betting events.