Johan Gouws, a Delta Motor Corporation employee, is the first winner of a car in the R1-million Boardwalk casino Spinning Star Promotion. The first cars in the draw are Corsas, which are manufactured by Delta in Port Elizabeth.

Mr Gouws was the first of six finalists chosen through draws over the past three weeks. At the first draw, which attracted a crowd of over five thousand, Mr Gouws elected to forgo half of his R5 000 cash prize for the chance of winning a car.

On Friday night Mr Gouws had his R2 500 refunded because subsequent draws were done over the radio, and finalists did not have to make the choice between a key and half their winnings.

Mr Gouws said he would be giving the Corsa to his wife Liz.

On Friday night each of the six finalists had to spin a wheel to determine the order in which they would select a key out of a bowl held by Diwali Queen Sara Ashnore.

Mr Gouws was third-highest.

"I knew it was the right key because it was the only one with the number facing up," says Mr Gouws. His wife, Liz, was there to share his joy and was delighted by the win.

The format for the remaining draws, which will culminate in a new Volkswagen Beetle being given to a lucky Boardwalk visitor, is still being determined.

The Boardwalk called off the public draws until the roadworks in the vicinity of the complex had been completed in order to prevent traffic problems that were experienced on the first night.