Churches pray for addiction centre
During the service, the couple was urged to continue helping the young people addicted to drugs and to never give up on them.
The use of drugs has become a huge problem in the Tembisa community.
Parents of addicts are battling to fight the torment and widespread use of nyaope, among the other drugs used, in the area.
Several church groups in Tembisa took a stand and gathered at Montsu Park to pray for the youngsters at the Makeke Drug and Addicted Centre on Wednesday last week. The prayer was specifically organised for the founders of the Makeke Drug Addicted Centre, Ms Cathrine and Mr Johannes Makeke.
During the service, the couple was urged to continue helping the young people addicted to drugs and to never give up on them.
Speaking during the prayer meeting, Ms Sofi Mahlangu said they really appreciate what Makeke’s family is doing in the community.
“The two have accepted our children who we called by names nyaopes and the likes. They trusted our children and provided them a home when we failed and gave up on them. We are encouraging them to never stop operating as we see their results from the recovering young people rehabilitating at their centre,” said Ms Mahlangu.
Ms Mahlangu urged the recovering youngsters to refrain from using drugs and to never relapse.
“We have lost too many of our brothers and sisters to drug abuse. It is time communities took back their power,” she said.
The Tembisa church groups were joined by other groups from Spruit, Tsakane and Duduza.
The ward 9 councillor, Clr Sindi Mvelase, was also part of the prayer.
The church groups also donated food to the young people at the Makeke Drug Addicted Centre.
Ms Cathrine Makeke said she was overwhelmed by the turnout of people at the prayer.
“I feel encouraged and thankful to the women who prayed, including the pastors who gave support. It has never been easy to stay with a child who smokes nyaope. I take this as a calling because we cannot sit as parents and do nothing to help this poor victims of drugs. They are our children and we have to give them the love, support and care they need,” said Ms Makeke.
Since opening the centre, Ms Makeke has received lot of negativity from other people in the community, who do not like what she does.
“Some people say I took criminals and placed them in my house and later they would jump the fences and steal from them. This is painful because every child in today’s generation is a victim to drugs. I thank the women who recognised the centre and the results for their children,” said Ms Makeke.
A free lunch sponsored by Clr Mvelase was served after the prayer meeting.
