Youth leader Simphiweyinkosi Nxadi has turned his own experiences with poverty, drugs and loss into a mission to mentor young people in his community.

Born in the Eastern Cape, Nxadi moved to Johannesburg at the age of 10. His family first settled in Kagiso before relocating to Swaneville in 2011, where he spent most of his childhood and completed his schooling at Winfed Nomzamo Mandela Secondary School, matriculating in 2019.

He grew up in a small two-bedroom RDP house with his mother, siblings and his sister’s child. Nxadi was raised by a single mother of four who ran a tavern from their home to support the family.

“Life was not easy. The sitting room was both where clients bought alcohol and where we spent time as a family,” he said.

Growing up in Swaneville, Nxadi was exposed to numerous social challenges, including crime and poverty. At a young age, he began experimenting with drugs. In Grade Six, he started smoking glue and continued until Grade Eight. Although he stopped, he later began smoking marijuana and cigarettes. He was also associated with the wrong crowd, and they started stealing small items from people’s homes.

His struggles affected his academic performance, and he failed Grade Nine, which he now describes as one of the turning points that forced him to reflect on his life.

His situation worsened in 2017 while he was in Grade 10, when he started using crystal meth and began working in illegal mining operations.

In 2018, his life took another difficult turn when his mother passed away. Suddenly, the responsibility of caring for his family fell on his shoulders. Nxadi said it was difficult to support his family while still completing his studies. Despite the hardships, he managed to complete matric, although his marks prevented him from pursuing further studies.

His turning point came during a community meeting attended by the then Gauteng premier, who was visiting Swaneville to address service delivery issues. During the meeting, Nxadi spoke openly about the struggles young people face, including his own experiences with drugs. After hearing his story, the premier encouraged him to organise young people in the community. Nxadi said that moment made him realise he could be a voice for others facing similar challenges.

Since then, he has dedicated himself to youth development in Swaneville. He organises community events, runs a Feed a Child programme for families in need and works with a team to assist elderly residents with cleaning and other household tasks. He also visits local schools to motivate learners.

Also read: Disability awareness event in Kagiso breaks barriers

Through his work, Nxadi said he has helped more than 100 young people access internships. However, he believes substance abuse remains one of the biggest challenges facing the community.

One of his biggest goals is to establish the Swaneville Youth Development Hub, which would provide mentorship, training and opportunities for young people.

Nxadi said his message to young people is simple:

“Know your value. When you understand your value, you will know what is right or wrong for your life.”