A 20-year-old third-year computer science student from the University of Port Elizabeth is the winner of the first big car give-away at The Boardwalk casino.

“My arm felt like jelly when I tried to turn the key in the ignition,” said Justin Rademan minutes after taking his place behind the wheel of the bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle.

To qualify as one of the 31 finalists in last night’s (Wednesday, January 03, 2001) draw, Justin had to visit the casino or attend one of the shows in the Tivoli Amphitheatre over the Christmas period.

“It is all a big coincidence really,” said beaming dad Bill Rademan.

“We wanted to go to the restaurant in the casino, but it was full. We decided to fill in the entry cards anyway and dropped them in the box on our way out.”

Justin, who stays in Rowallan Park, is going to keep the car and will have one of the coolest sets of wheels on campus.

“Of course, dad expects to get a chance to drive it now and then as well,” says Mr Rademan senior.

The runner-up in the competition was Ernestine Noorshib of Gelvan Park, who went home with R10 444 and a scooter.

The other finalists received prizes ranging from R444 to R5 444. 444 was the number sequence contestants needed on their entry tickets to win.

“What’s great is that once again the winners have been from Port Elizabeth,” says marketing manager Shaun van Eck.

All four winners of the million rand jackpots since the opening in October, as well as the people who have gone home with half a million rand from the African Express, have been from the Eastern Cape.

The next competition, with a Corsa as the main prize, begins soon.