Masego Kwenamore suffered from a gambling addiction for almost 15 years.
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In 1998 she was staying in Dalpark, Brakpan near Boksburg, Ekurhuleni when she had her first taste of gambling at Carnival City.
“When I saw somebody winning all that money I took my salary to the casino and tried my luck,” said Masego Kwenamore, who is now 41 and lives in Klerksdorp, North West.
She said she wasn’t lucky but she didn’t stop.
For nearly 15 years she struggled with her painful and self-destructive behaviour.
“On the surface I was living a happy and fulfilled life.”
In 2007 she left her three-week-old baby with her 11-year- old daughter. She went to the casino and left them alone from 3pm until 3am.
“In 2013 my life went from bad to worse.
“I sold my furniture and my husband’s old car. I even sold my work laptop.”
She also stole her husband’s money, thinking she would win it back.
Then she tried to commit suicide by taking rat poison mixed with pap and spinach.
“My daughter called the paramedics who took me to hospital. I was disappointed that I didn’t die because I had lost everything. My life had become meaningless.”
She said in all her years of gambling, her biggest win was R12 000.
Things took a turn for the better when she started going to church.
“I prayed to God to take the problem away.”
Now she motivates people on various radio stations about the dangers of gambling.
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