‘I went from smoking three bags a day to eight’ – Magubane

Kwa-Thema – Themba Magubane who battled with drug addiction for 14 years is now spearheading the fight against substance abuse through his charity work.

The former drug addict led a life of self-destruction, purposeless and crime.

After years of fighting to clean up his life, the 37-year-old has dedicated his life to motivating other addicts to a clean future.

He has been clean for six years and remains dedicated to his recovery journey.

Magubane started experimenting with Mandrax in 2004. He continued to use the drug until 2007 when he switched to nyaope.

Unlike most, he details his childhood as loving with both caring parents.

“I didn’t lack anything as a child. I grew up in a loving home, had both parents and I would get everything I wanted.
“My addiction to drugs came out of curiosity and,I guess, liking things.
“It got to a point where I would take food from the fridge to sell it, just to get the fix,” he said.

Also read: NPO helps addicts to go to rehab

His move to nyaope was due to chest pains and shortness of breath he experienced because of Mandrax.

In 2010 he managed to stay three months drug-free when his family moved him to Limpopo.

But he relapsed when he came back to Kwa-Thema.

According to him, the drugs were easily accessible in the area.

Throughout his drug life, Magubane has been in and out of prison.

Despite these challenges, his parents were supportive and tried, by all means, to help him beat the addiction.

Also read: Former addicts hold awareness campaign

“My addiction was spiraling out of control. I went from smoking three bags a day to eight.
“That time each bag costed R30 and I was unemployed.
“The worst part was without it I couldn’t function.
“I had to smoke first thing in the morning before anything else. You can’t even go to the bathroom if you haven’t smoked first,” he explained.

He said it was because of these reasons he resorted to crime.

“I was so confused I could not sleep. I started stealing at home and from our neighbourhood. That’s when I got arrested for a year but was never sentenced.
“From there I was in and out of prison.”

Unfortunately, his mother died in 2017 due to illness while he was preparing to go to rehab.

He ended up not going that year.

“I took myself to rehab in 2018 without informing my family.
“I felt like they had suffered enough because of me.
“My son was teased at school that his father is a ‘nyaope’.
“That pushed me to want to change my life for the better. I was in rehab for 42 days,” he added.

When he came back from rehab he partnered with his friend Siyabonga Mbatha, also a recovering addict, to establish Masakhane Support Care Centre, an NPO dedicated to helping drug users.

He firmly believes that users can quit drugs, if only ‘you open your heart’ and are determined to quit.

On Sunday they commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse by hosting an awareness campaign and cooking for addicts at Overline, Kwa-Thema.

They also distributed educational pamphlets.

They meet on Fridays in room four at the Kwa-Thema Hall from 11:00.

They also work with social workers who meet with addicts on Thursdays at the same venue at 10:00.

Follow us on: