Department of Social Development lauds recovering substance users, one from Alberton
28-year-old Lungelo Cekiso from Greenfields on the outskirts of Alberton, was one of the recovering substance users who changed his life for the better.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development is spearheading programmes aimed at fighting substance abuse in the province, and if recent results are anything to go by, the programmes are yielding positive results.
The department’s Eastern Corridor Substance Abuse Unit recently hosted an aftercare programme at its Germiston Office to reintegrate recovering substance users into society.
At least 14 recovering substance users successfully completed rehabilitation, and were joined by their families, pastors, social workers, and medical experts to assist them in maintaining sobriety and leading a positive life.
One of the recently integrated recoverees is 28-year-old Lungelo Cekiso from Greenfields on the outskirts of Alberton.
Photo: Supplied
Cekiso changed his life for the better after participating in a six-week rehabilitation programme at Clinix Group in Randfontein.
“The Gauteng Department of Social Development took me to rehab and assisted me to complete a six-month skills development programme at Xilembeni Projects Centre of Excellence in Bapsfontein. Today I am a qualified bricklayer, carpenter, plumber, welder, tiler, painter, and roof layer with an accredited certificate. These were provided to me free of charge,” said Cekiso proudly.
“I can now provide for my family and put food on the table,” he added.
In January, Cekiso received a three-month contract to work as an assistant teacher in welding at St Anthony’s Education Centre in Boksburg. A month later, he was appointed by a welding company on a full-time basis.
Eastern Corridor social work manager Tozama Tshabane awarded recoverees with certificates and said meaningful skills development opportunities must support their journeys to recovery.
Commenting on these successes, social work supervisor Bongiwe Dube said: “We are very happy as a department to witness our ‘soldiers’ who went to war and came back victorious and rehabilitated. We know this journey to recovery is very difficult, but we are here to support them.”
Dube added that the fight against substance abuse requires a collaborative effort and that the department must serve as a platform for those seeking rehabilitation to reach out.
