Nyaope loses out to ex-users

On Freedom Day, Sindiswa Mbonambi, director of My Identity Restoration Campaign, welcomed back nine men who had been sent for rehabilitation from consuming nyaope.

May 2, 2017

Sheina Razack 2 minutes read

Sindiswa Mbonambi stands with Nkosana Magadla, who had been smoking nyaope for 10 years. He joined Mbonambi's programme in August 2016 and told the youth that drugs kill. “There was no peace in my house because I took this drug. Do not take it - it will kill you,” Magadla said.

The welcome-back took place at the Wattville Stadium and was not only a celebration for the ex-users, but also an opportunity for community members who wanted to be educated by these ex-addicts about nyaope.

“After being abused by men from a young age, I needed to understand why some men were so bitter,” said Mbonambi.

“My organisation focuses on helping boys find their identities through skills and workshops we host.

“I know a few boys who suffer due to being fatherless and have a lack of role models, which is how I realised that boys suffer just as much as girls do.”

This campaign then focused on boys who are struggling with the challenges of life – one being nyaope – and Mbonambi helped nine of these boys to attend rehabilitation and welcomed them back to teach others why drugs are not needed.

An ex-user of nyaope is Vosloorus resident Tiisetso Malgos (27), who had been smoking nyaope for 10 years.

“I started taking nyaope at the age of 17 because of peer pressure,” Malgos said.

“It affected my life because I dropped out of school, and started committing crimes because I needed money to fund my addiction.

“That led to me going to prison in October last year.”

The police’s (wearing caps) Capt Ntombikayise Modise (left) and Capt Pheello Mothapo (standing third from right) spent their Freedom Day at the event in Wattville with the Actonville and Wattville Youth Desk.

Girls performed traditional dances at the Wattville Stadium on Freedom Day for the event hosted by Sindiswa Mbonambi, director of My Identity Restoration Campaign.

Ex-user of the nyaope drug, Tiisetso Malgos (left) stands with the director of My Identity Restoration Campaign, Sindiswa Mbonambi, at the Wattville Stadium on Freedom Day (April 27).

“#Ke Moja without Nyaope” (“We are good without Nyaope” say ex-users of the drug, who are standing with Sindiswa Mbonambi. They are, standing (from left): Thabo Pelo (22, who is an ex-user of nyaope), Sindiswa Mbonambi and Thabo Matete (25, who was a user for eight years). Sitting: Tiisetso Malgo (27, formerly a user for 10 years).

While in prison, Malgos decided that he could not live a life of drugs anymore, and a relative of his introduced him to Mbonambi.

“My drug addiction affected my family, but they never gave up on me. They always encouraged me to give it up,” he said.

After being released from prison in December, Malgos joined the campaign directed by Mbonambi and attended the event at the Wattville Stadium to spread this message: “Do not do drugs.”

“I let down my family and my community,” Malgos said.

“I broke my family’s heart and I will not go back to drugs.

“There is no good future for anyone who takes drugs; they will get caught and go to prison or possibly be killed.”

Apart from the ex-users sharing their testimonies, the day consisted of traditional dances, a speech from SAPS social crime prevention Capt Ntombikayise Modise, poetry, a K9 presentation, a youth safety talk and more.