Dumisile Hlatswayo from Standerton helps addicts on the road to recovery
According to an insider, her life is based on what her parents taught her.
A woman whose son Lunga recently featured in the Standerton Advertiser, gave her take on what happens when a drug user is put on the path to rehabilitation.
Ms Dumisile Hlatswayo left no stone unturned to send him to a facility in KwaZulu-Natal, KwasisaBantu Mission.
She was born in Standerton and completed her school years at Jandrell Secondary School.
By all accounts, she is a woman of faith and prayer and was instrumental in establishing a foundation, alongside Pastor Andrew Matsi of the Replica Church, for drug users who end up on the streets.
Ms Hlatswayo carries her Bible in her handbag and normally prays three times a day, followed by a midnight session.
According to an insider, her life is based on what her parents taught her.
Lunga’s road to recovery came in her later years and she now shares her message with anyone willing to listen.
Apart from being a Sunday school teacher at her home and youth leader, she serves as a pastor of the Apostolic Faith Mission.
She also has a daughter and two grandchildren. The soft-spoken Lunga was first hooked on cannabis, progressing to mandrax, and Dumisile refused to give him money to support his habit.
The foundation Kuyenzeka Kunkulunkulu, offers a free meal, along with a message of hope and redemption, at the premises of a local business every Saturday.
Anyone requiring more information or wishing to get involved, can contact Mr Muzi Nzimande at 060 700 6446.
During the interview Ms Hlatswayo said the organisation was hampered at the end of March, in their efforts to get more people admitted to the rehabilitation centre in KwaZulu-Natal.
Her metaphor for stopping drug abuse was to close the tap.
“You are mopping the floor the whole time when water is flowing into your house,” she said. First close the tap outside.”
Ms Hlatswayo believes in encouraging the homeless to make contact with their families again and her plans for next year, do not differ any which way from what she has been doing for the past years.
“I want to help the addicts to lead a normal life again,” she concluded.
