LIMPOPO – Awelani Makongoza from Tshilungoma is making a difference in the lives of young drug addicts by turning his own home into a rehabilitation facility.

Through his initiative, Team Makongoza Disciplinary Camp, he has helped 170 young men from the Vhembe region battle their addiction and rebuild their lives.

Since the rise of nyaope addiction in the 2020s, many young people, especially from poor and working-class backgrounds, have fallen victim to the drug. Makongoza took it upon himself to provide a safe space where addicts can detox, heal and regain control of their future.

At his home, addicts receive counselling and are steamed with herbal teas as part of the cleansing process. Those who are still in school are allowed to attend classes and return to his facility afterward.

Even after rehabilitation, Makongoza continues to mentor and support them to ensure they stay on the right path. He believes that drug addiction is a crisis that requires collective action. “Our support shows that we love them. They need to live,” he said.

A former nyaope addict, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his experience. He explained that while acquiring nyaope is easy, the biggest challenge is getting money to buy it. “If only we had opportunities to do odd jobs, we wouldn’t be forced into crime. The pain of withdrawal is unbearable – sometimes it lasts for two weeks. You end up stealing because you feel like you have no other choice,” he said.

He called on the government to provide more support during the rehabilitation process, as the current system, he said, leaves many addicts struggling to stay clean.

“The crime rate will keep increasing if nothing changes. Everywhere you go, you see young addicts sitting on street corners, planning their next move to get money. They steal, get arrested, and then face brutality from the police. It’s a cycle that needs to be broken,” he concluded.