Men not cut from the same cloth unite to help the homeless in Standerton

Two people from vastly different backgrounds combine their individual talents in Standerton to reach out to the lonely, the homeless, those with addictions and those craving a receptive ear.

Messrs Juan Nortjé, home-grown local, and Sybrand Roodt, a Carletonville-native, took over a NPO and are in the process of establishing Spirit Love Ministries.

They met at a church gathering in town on 24 March and became friends through a mutual love of God.

Their partnership has mushroomed to an active embracement of people, regardless of their circumstances.

Sybrand, who grew up in the mining milieu of the West-Rand, was part of a Nigerian gang, who had their own ‘cookhouse’ for supplying Ectasy, cocaine, LSD, CAT and crystal meth to the market.

“I used all of it for a period of 18 years and produced those drugs for 11 years,” the former pimp, bouncer, gangster and ex-convict said.

He was on steroids at that time and went to the gymnasium religiously for work-outs.

“This life demanded that I become a fighter, being strong and intimidating was my drive for steroid use,” Sybrand also said.

“I supplied and sold drugs for myself, anyone looking for a high and to a few of the companies I worked for.”

Come 2009 was the first time he was under house arrest.

He estimated that following that, he had been in and out of prison at least two months of the year for more than nine years in facilities in

Carletonville, Boksburg and Krugersdorp, with Leeuwkop Maximum Prison his last fixed abode for 18 months.

The charge was attempted robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Sybrand has tattoos all over his arms and the number 28 is a reminder of his position, not to be messed with, in prisons.

“It was business as usual in Leewkop, it was constant fighting, use and selling of drugs.”

He was, by choice, homeless on the streets, for two years.

“The most difficult was the heroin withdrawal symptoms when I began getting off drugs and even giving up dagga, was definitely not easy.

“The day I feel God as a rush in the same way as with drugs, that will be the day I leave this life.”

He woke up one morning and had an intense encounter with God and this closed the book on several chapters of drug use and dealing.

Juan on the other hand, is poles apart from Sybrand’s street-wise attitude, worked in insurance and the motor industry for the majority of his working life.

After he lost his business in Pretoria, he returned to Standerton in 2017 and in his own words, washed ashore.

In this abysmal period of his life, he began a deeper search for God and meaning in his life.

Not long afterwards, he went to test his skills as salesman, selling art in Miami, Florida.

While working there, he learned to jump over the hurdle of feeling rejected and gained confidence in public speaking.

It also allowed intense introspection of what and who he wanted to be.

“It was the best thing I did in my life,” Juan said.

“God taught me to really trust him and find my identity.”

When Covid-19 hit the USA, he went into isolation on a luxury cruise ship and sailed back to South Africa.

During these 84 days, he saw how Covid-19 forced everyone to self-isolate, saw how this turning point affected everyone on the ship dramatically and took on the job of teaching fellow-sailors how self-discovery can save you in a time of crisis.

“I noticed that people were suffering psychologically after not seeing fellow-travellers 24/7 and not being able to communicate,” he also said.

“Bubbly personalities became shadows of themselves.

“You are not a victim. but a victim of yourself.”

Juan has been reading widely in the psychological field and draws most of his inspiration from Carel Jung, Jordan B Peterson, Joseph Murphy and Napoleon Hill.

He is a staunch supporter of the Jungian belief in the collective unconscious and archetypes.

“People battle to be alone and anxiety levels rise,” he added.

He developed a programme, sourced from personal experiences with other people, while he was counselling people in his friend’s street ministry.

The programme helps with techniques for introspection on countering the unwanted and unbidden thoughts, that the human mind is capable of.

Both men are true believers and huge advocates of a powerful and personal God.

While Sybrand knows exactly from experience how to reach addicts on a practical level, Juan complements the exercise with a belief in the kingdom of God that is real and present, should you only believe.

Neither are pushovers when it comes to dealing with challenges on their way, from gender-based violence to strong, vocal opposition in what they stand for.

Sybrand has been on parole for a year and a half, has a fiancée and is determined to make every day more and more successful.

Juan has a strong support system and has always been encouraged and supported by his mother and his late grandmother, to be proactive in dealing with a myriad of circumstances with his outcome-based outlook.

“I can’t solve the problem, but can equip someone to solve the problem.”

He has a full agenda throughout the week and preaches at the crisis centre, conducts group addiction therapy and is present at the soup kitchen of Kasselman Security Services on Thursdays.

Both willingly supplied their cellphone numbers to anyone who wants to come into contact with them.

Sybrand is available on 082 856 1828 and Juan on 073 640 4908.