Lerato Kganyago Ndlala beat the Deal or No Deal Celebrity banker using biz-savvy and charm.
The Metro FM star raised the most money for charity on the show’s second season so far.
In the latest episode of Deal or No Deal Celebrity on SABC 1, glamorous Metro FM radio host, SAFTA-winning television presenter, acclaimed DJ, businesswoman, and pageant queen Lerato Kganyago Ndlala won a whopping R62,200 for the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund. With this, she became the biggest winner to date on the second season of this exhilarating game of chance.
Lerato’s winnings also pushed the funds raised for Jumping Kids beyond a quarter of a million rand. The remaining much-needed cash in the Deal or No Deal Celebrity Jumping Kids kitty, which now totals R258,240, consisted of prize money donations from Uzalo actress Thuthuka Mthembu, comedian Tol Ass Mo, DJ Loyd, MasterChef South Africa judge Katlego Mlambo, and singer-songwriter Zee Nxumalo.
Nevertheless, Lerato will attest that securing this impressive deal with Deal or No Deal Celebrity’s astute and mysterious banker was no easy feat. Her gameplay was a rollercoaster of tough decisions. Not only did she have to keep her cool in determining the order in which to eliminate the briefcases held by the Money Models, but the banker also upped the ante with an unexpected phone call giving her the option to swap the closed briefcase she had chosen as her bargaining chip.
The dilemma: What if the closed briefcase she initially selected contained the jackpot prize of R250,000, and would the amount in the swapped briefcase improve or worsen her position in the pursuit of winning a substantial sum for Jumping Kids? In a brave move, trusting her instincts, Lerato exchanged her briefcase for another, hoping for the best.
Still the beautiful former Miss Jam Alley, Miss City Press, Miss Soweto, and recent Miss South Africa judge turned on the charm with witty quips and moves to send positive energy the banker’s way.
However, when it was crunch time, Lerato approached the shrewd bean counter with the skills that had served her well on many occasions when negotiating lucrative business deals in boardrooms.
After telling Deal or No Deal host Katlego Maboe about her latest solo venture in the aviation sector, she described her calm and focused entrepreneurial approach in situations like these: “Stand on business. Know exactly what you’re offering to be worth for both you and the client sitting across you.”
That’s precisely why Lerato declined the banker’s offer of R46,000 when only three unopened briefcases remained. But when the risk became too high, boiling down to possibly winning either R1,000 or R100,000 for Jumping Kids, she chose to press the LottoStar button, indicating she accepted R62,200.
It was a wise call. If she played until the end, Jumping Kids would only have gained the R1,000 hidden in her briefcase.
Jumping Kids, the charity that benefits from the funds accumulated by the first 13 famous faces on the show, supports children from previously disadvantaged communities who live with lower limb amputations or deficiencies. As such, this non-profit organisation offers access to quality prosthetic devices, rehabilitative care, mainstream education and sports participation opportunities. Many of these kids have represented the country – and won medals – at international Para Athletics Championships.
“I’m so proud to have been part of a show dedicated to helping others,” Lerato said about her Deal or No Deal Celebrity stint. “Giving back is so important.” Besides putting her heart on the line to improve the lives of the children from Jumping Kids on Deal or No Deal Celebrity, Lerato has been driving several initiatives that alleviate poverty. One of these charity projects involves providing sanitary pads to young girls.
The weekly Deal or No Deal Celebrity, airing on SABC1, is a spin-off of the hugely popular daily Deal or No Deal South Africa, which airs on SABC 2 on weekdays at 18:30. Both shows are proudly sponsored by LottoStar and produced by Homebrew Films for Primedia Studios. South Africa was the first country worldwide to create a version of the format featuring celebrities only.
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