Pta drug dealer leaves drugs and pursues music
Donald Mohlala said he decided to leave the drug world after he saw how it destroyed parents who watched as their children, for whom they had big plans, ruined their lives.
A Sunnyside ex-drug pusher is hoping that his music would inspire others to also turn their backs on the world of drugs, like he did.
“We chose this kind of music because the instruments are loud and it’s the kind of music most hyper-addicts like to listen to,” said Donald Mohlala, better known as Black Rock Black to his fans.
Mohlala said he chose his particular brand of gospel, with a tune of Afro hip-hop, because it appeals to their target market of drug addicts.
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“The music speaks to them,” he said.
Mohlala has left the drug world to pursue a career in music.
“I wish everyone who is involved in distributing drugs could see how they are contributing to destroying innocent lives. The drug world is evil – people only care about money.”
As Black Rock Black, he – together with his musical partner Cleopatra Manaiwa (also known as Ephphatha) – hopes to win back “lost souls” through their music.
He said he met Ephphatha, who was already in the music industry, when she approached him to help her addict brother go clean.
Mohlala, who hails from Burgersfort in Limpopo, said he was indirectly introduced to the drug world after he was promised a good life in the city in the early 2000s.
“They told me they had connections with big companies, which would help turn my situation around. Because of poverty, I agreed and only found out when I got to Johannesburg that it was all to push drugs. We distributed drugs in Sunnyside, Johannesburg, Hillbrow, Saxon and Braamfontein – to name but a few.”
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He said he decided to leave the drug world after he saw how it destroyed parents who watched as their children, for whom they had big plans, ruined their lives.
“I would like to appeal to anyone involved in the drug world to please stop,” he said.
“God has a vision for each and every one of us. And the more you sell drugs, the more you are destroying the vision of God.”
The duo has just recorded their latest single, titled Izitaladi zobumnyama (translated as “streets of darkness”), to “raise awareness and alert people to be careful and to open their eyes”.
Apart from his music, Mohlala also hosts youth seminars and helps children whose parents are addicts.
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