GEM still as strong as always

When a recovered or recovering addict sit before you, they will either fool you or speak right to you. Greater Emalahleni, under the guiding hand of Past Given Mavasa has been in the news a couple of times and only success stories are told.

It was reported in February that Kelvin Mbatha (22) has joined the program. Today, Joseph Nchabeleng (30) is telling his story.

He was born in Dennilton, moved to Douglas a couple of years ago and he said that his problem started when he moved to the coal city.

“I was in grade 10 when I was introduced to heroin when I met with a Nigerian national and I did very stupid things. I was in Witbank Technical College but dropped out because of these things. My parents saw that the problem is only getting worse and they ended up kicking me out. I ran to Johannesburg for two to three years but came back. I was clean for about a year and six months but my dad and I fought continuously. I think that contributed to the problem and I just started using again,” Joseph said.

He laughed, as he said that he was in Pretoria for a while, he met a dealer who gave him drugs to sell.

“I smoked those drugs and didn’t sell it. I had to run, I went to Johannesburg, did the same thing. I had to run again.”

Joseph said that he was not planning on staying in eMalahleni.

“I was on my way to Nelspruit. There are people who make me not think of drugs. I wanted to quit but did not know how.”

Maureen Scheepers, operations co-ordinator of the SACCW (South African Community Crime Watch) has a passion for helping those who wants to be helped.

“Given and I went to a scrap yard where many addicts sleep. We went to talk to them, to offer them help. We found Joseph and saw that he wants to turn his life around.” Joseph added: “I thank God for meeting these people.”

He said that he could easily smoke 15 bags a day. He is currently down to one as he is still in the detox phase.

“I want to be clean and strong. I want to go back to my family and show them how far I have come. I want to be an example for others to see me and know that they can also be where I am. And that they can if they want to. People need to be educated about this but some boys are not ready. They say they want to but when I say I will get Maureen to speak to them they make excuses.”

He added that he is excited about working with Past Given and Maureen.

“It’s not a life sleeping on the streets. When you walk the streets, you see a bicycle in the yard. You want to jump the wall, steal the bike and sell it because it will get you a fix.”

Joseph said that the mythical devil on ones shoulder is not a myth.

“I was at SANCA for the first time with a lady and a guy. They gave me a tablet to play games on, to keep me busy. They left me alone for a bit and I thought how much I could get for the tablet. It would at least give me a fix or two. I had to speak to myself and say that Maureen and Pastor will not trust me any more. I know everyone in Klipfontein knows me as one who steals from them, but I want to change.”

Maureen added that many addicts can not account for what they do, as they are driven by their need for drugs.

She said that when you start to get clean, your soul comes alive again and your conscious warns you about good and bad and that the need for a fix is so much that they need to steal and sell things for just one fix.

Joseph agreed:

“You will do anything for a fix and I stole like crazy.”

Maureen added on Tuesday, May 14 that Joseph has been to SANCA (South African National Council on Alcoholism) once and today will be his second time.

“We are also taking him to New Life Church, to their dignity shop to get food and some clean clothes.”

Joseph expressed his appreciation toward Maureen and Past Given, for their assistance in getting him clean and assisting him with appointments and for all they are doing to help him.

GEM has a winter warmer project, where they are asking for blanket donations to give to those who need them most.

“We have given a blanket and pillow to Joseph, which we received from a donation.”