The devastating effects of drug addiction on family

It can be challenging to care for a family member who struggles with a drug addiction. For one unemployed couple who just relocated to Randfontein, the struggle to assist a family member break the habit was long.

Hetta Koen (62) and Francois du Plessis (43) currently stay in a room in Uitvalfontein that houses only a bed, couch, basin, and kettle, which Koen bought for just R30 and operates with a cable tie. As Koen explained, her washing machine is currently the basin and she has a bucket of water to do laundry in.

The couple did not, however, start life this way nor do they come from wealthy beginnings. They moved here from Melkbosstrand after Koen’s relative wanted to finally kick her drug addiction. They have since left everything behind to come to Randfontein to help her but sadly, the relative disappeared and they haven’t heard from her for some time.

She further explained her relative’s struggle with addiction began when they owned a chicken farm in Centurion. She (the relative) fell into a deep depression after being raped during two separate home invasions. Koen added the last six or seven years have been the same struggle with her being in and out of rehabilitation centres and simply not being able to get rid of her heroin addiction.

Du Plessis explained he lost his wife of 22 years. She died in his daughter’s arms of a heart attack. He then met Koen three years ago and they have been together since. Koen added their respective families had trouble accepting their age difference and therefore they could not rely on them for help. Koen added they have also lost many of their friends as well due to their declining social status.

“How could we not come here? Koen asked, “She is my relative. I had to help her. It sounds terrible when I say this but at one point I felt that if someone came to me and said she passed away, I would feel relieved. I would then at least know where she is,” said Koen with tears running down her face.

According to Koen, it had cost a lot for both of them to come to Randfontein. Koen’s clothes were stolen from the bus they took to get here and she currently only has four shirts and three pairs of pants. Furthermore, the land they are currently staying on has been sold and they need to leave by the end of April.

“Where will we go then?” asked Du Plessis.

He noted they have gone to job interviews, however, their travelling costs to get there would be more than the salary for both of them.

He is asking passersby for work when they stand at the intersection. Du Plessis, who has been working since the age of 15, said he can do maintenance work, and farming and he previously worked as both a storeman and technician.

Koen is a chef, but she explained that she does not get hired due to her age. She also bakes cookies that they sell at intersections for a small income. They want to start a new endeavour where they sell second-hand clothes, however, they would need donations to do this.

“We don’t ask people for money, we want to work. We also don’t harass people when we stand there, we are just asking for a bit of support,” stated Koen.

She added they have been accosted by both passersby and others standing at the intersection asking for donations.

“We have lost our dignity at that intersection.”

On Human Rights Day, kind strangers stopped at the intersection to give them food. She explained it meant so much to them to have someone reach out.

“We are just trying to survive,” said Du Plessis.

For now, their love is all they have.

Any person who wants to get in touch with them can contact Du Plessis on 072 789 6433.