
- Pilot Sive Mbana and her new husband, marketing manager Solam, have beaten 15 families to win the inaugural Sanlam Moola-Money Family Game Show on eTV.
- Just three months after tying the knot, the Joburg couple's financial knowledge saw them take home the grand prize of R500 000.
- The couple shared some details of their new marriage, relationship and the big win with W24.
Pilot Sive Mbana and her new husband, marketing manager Solam, took home R500 000 just three months after tying the knot.
The Joburg couple won the inaugural Sanlam Moola-Money Family Game Show on eTV. Speaking to W24 they shared details of their new marriage and the big win.
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Sive and Solam Mbana took home half-a-million rand after winning the inaugural Sanlam Moola-Money Family Game Show on eTV. All images supplied by Atmosphere.
The couple met in 2007 at a friend's celebration in the Eastern Cape.
"We became friends and only started dating four years later, in 2011," says Sive, who also shares that they have very different personalities.
"I love rules, structure and routine, and my husband is the opposite - way more relaxed. But this works perfectly for us as a team. We create an outstanding balance."
It turns out that they are so good at balancing each other out that they decided to get married in a beautiful intimate ceremony a few months ago.
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"We had a minimony (mini-ceremony), with just six guests - our immediate family. We didn't livestream it in an effort not to exclude some of our family members who may not have access to the internet," explains Sive.
However, once it's safe to do so, the couple plans on having another wedding to celebrate with their extended families and friends.
Speaking about their big day, Sive says she enjoyed every bit of it.
"It felt like a family Sunday or birthday lunch with everyone a little more dressed up than usual. There were lots of tears, great laughs and delicious food."
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The stroke of luck which left them R500 000 richer came in good time as Covid-19 had impacted the couple's livelihood.
"I am a commercial pilot and was out of work due to the pandemic. My husband works in marketing for an alcohol company. Our household has been hit quite hard by the pandemic," she shares.
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"Our participation not only eased some of our short-term financial worries but it taught us how to take a long-term view on our financial situation. We will make sure we always have a safety net for any future crisis (but let's hope we don't need it!)."
She says being part of the competition also helped them grow as a couple.
"I think our unwavering trust in one another stood the test of the competition and carried us to the result we find ourselves with today."
The Mbanas plan to use their winnings to build wealth through investments.
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