A recovered drug addict recently shared his story of hope and transformation at the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) ‘Bakae-Ke Moja’ Campaign in Magaliesburg.

Serame Maduna, formerly an addict from Ga-Mohale, explained that at one point in his life, he found himself alone, asking how he could get himself out of this cycle of drug abuse.

“I started with cigarettes, then dagga, and eventually moved to hard drugs. I ignored those who cared for me and followed the wrong crowd, many of whom are now behind bars,” he said.

Following advice from his stepmother, Serame reached out to a social worker from West Rand Youth Development, who visited his home regularly to guide young people seeking to overcome addiction and reconnect with their communities.

He enrolled in a six-week counselling programme, followed by a six-month rehabilitation programme, during which he learned valuable skills in agriculture, maintenance, baking, and even completed an assistant chef course.

“By the grace of God, I found an opportunity to volunteer with West Rand Youth Development as a mentor, guiding addicts towards the right path. After 10 months, I secured a job,” Serame explained.

“I’m grateful for what God has done in my life. I want to help those still struggling with addiction and give them hope that they, too, can change and become better people,” he added.

Teddy Gomba, spokesperson for the MEC of the DSD, said the campaign – which later continued to Munsieville and Kagiso – aims to reconnect with individuals who have completed rehabilitation, and link them to skills development initiatives that promote self-reliance and community reintegration.

“The campaign is part of the department’s ongoing commitment to support beneficiaries beyond treatment, ensuring recovery is sustained and strengthened through empowerment and opportunity. Initiatives like this continue to fight substance abuse and build communities of hope, resilience, and purpose,” he concluded.