Uthanda Bani episode 6 recap: Gambling addiction pulls family apart

It takes a lot to make a marriage work. While some problems are easier to deal with, others aren’t that straightforward. Just ask Moshe, who comes from Soshanguve, Pretoria. He’s been with Naomi since 2000 and their relationship hasn’t been smooth, especially because of her gambling problem. He revealed on the latest episode of Uthanda Bani: “She’s addicted to gambling cards. She sleeps where they play and comes back in the morning. Meaning, I have to be the one to prepare supper for the kids.”

He loves her so much and still wants to spend the rest of his life with her. However, he feels that she needs help.

Is another man involved?

To add more stress to the situation, Moshe suspects that his wife might be cheating on him. “When I call, she tells me that she’s playing cards. Sometimes I suspect that she might be with another man, not playing cards. And that doesn’t sit well with me,” he told Basani. "We once got social [grant] money that amounted to R3 000. She took R1 500 and played cards with it.”

When approached to share her side of the story, Naomi said on the show: “Moshe doesn’t work. And I go to play cards to hustle for the kids.” She often wins money and shows it to her husband. “He sees the money. I don’t hide it from him.” Naomi revealed that she plays cards every month. “I go there with R150. I sometimes come back with R800 or R1 200.”

It’s time to change

After Naomi explained that she uses some of her money on drinking, Basani pointed out that they’re dealing with cards and alcohol. “When we spoke earlier, you said she spends nights playing cards and drinking,” she told Moshe. Naomi then confirmed that she sometimes sleeps where she plays cards and comes back in the morning before her kids go to school.

After realising that she could lose her husband, Naomi said she’d stop playing cards. “The reason I want to change is because I can see he loves me, and I love him. I don’t want to lose him and if I do, my kids will struggle," she said on the show. Naomi, who’s been playing cards for 15 years, is ready to say goodbye to her addiction.

All the episodes of Uthanda Bani are available to binge-watch on Showmax.

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