Lunga Hlatswayo from Sakhile comes clean about his drug use
He made good friends, put on weight and the cheap jibes about his transformation from skinny to well-fed, are taken in his stride.
Fresh out of rehabilitation centre in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Lunga Hlatswayo spoke about some of his experiences at his addiction height.
Lunga of RDP in Sakhile left Azalea Combined School with a Grade 10-certificate to his name, and the allure of belonging to a gang beckoned.
He progressed to smoking mandrax after cannabis proved to be no longer fun.
The life of a user with the problems of supporting his habit had to be faced.
“I stole food and clothes to pay for it and saw my mother crying,” Lunga admitted.
“I realised one day that I was dirty and did not want that life anymore.”
No Damascus-experience, but rather a gradual awareness that something was not right.
His mother, Ms Dumisile Hlatswayo, was steadfast in her refusal to part with any money and began a four times, daily vigil, on her knees.
Longo was a drug-user since the age of 14 and at the end of last year, he agreed to be admitted to KwasisaBantu Mission.
A normal day at the centre focused on spiritual guidance.
“I got up at 6am and washed, church was at 9am,” he said.
The patients had a good lunch at 1pm and two additional church meetings for the rest of the day. It was lights out at 8pm.
“I was tired at that stage and enjoyed the good night’s rest.”
He made good friends, put on weight and the cheap jibes about his transformation from skinny to well-fed, are taken in his stride.
His involvement with Kuyenzeka Kunkulunkulu, a local non-profit organisation, that reaches out to substance abusers, fills many empty hours.
Lunga would like to study someday and the businessman-dream of many young men, is entrenched.
His circle of friends has changed dramatically and he would rather now stay at home.
He plans to get married and has a young woman at his side.
No photo please, of the young man, who has been clean for two months.
Lunga did not end up on the streets, where so many homeless find themselves.
A man on the street has made a cold evening bearable. This photo was taken near the intersection of Beyers Naudé Street and Handel Street on 10 October.
