A JOURNEY TO REDEMPTION: NJABULO NKOSI’S FIGHT TO REBUILD TRUST AND OVERCOME ADDICTION

By Lorato Modisenyane

• Njabulo Nkosi, a 25-year-old from Ratanda, is on a path to recovery after a five-year journey with substance addiction that began in his teens.
• His addiction escalated from dagga to harder drugs, resulting in job loss and family strain.
• With the support of Dumazile Mabuso from Icebo lika Jehovah, a registered NPO, Nkosi is now preparing for rehabilitation at the Dr. Fabian and Riberio Treatment Centre, thanks to a referral from the Gauteng Department of Social Development.

Njabulo Nkosi, a 25-year-old from Ratanda, began experimenting with drugs five years ago due to peer pressure while in Grade 11. His journey into addiction started with dagga but soon escalated to harder substances, including tik, mandrax, and eventually, nyaope. 

Nkosi attempted to quit multiple times but found himself returning to drugs, each time falling deeper into addiction. In 2019, while working as an Extended Public Works Practitioner (EPWP), his addiction overcame him. He could no longer manage his responsibilities at work, which led to him losing his job and everything he had worked for, including the trust of his family. After losing his job, Nkosi sought help from the South African National Council of Alcoholism (SANCA) in Heidelberg. He was given the option of rehabilitation or taking medication, and he chose the latter, a decision he later regretted as he relapsed into using mandrax and nyaope.

“I’ve hurt my family while on drugs, and now I’m ready to rebuild the trust I lost and pursue my dream of becoming a motivational speaker,” Nkosi shared.

Five years later, Nkosi is desperate for help. Dumazile Mabuso from Icebo lika Jehovah, an NPO that implements substance abuse programmes, has been guiding him through his recovery journey, working to get him into rehabilitation. Mabuso, who initially funded her organisation from her own pocket, registered it as an NPO to help more people like Nkosi.

Mabuso shared how she has earned the trust of substance users and now sees them ready for rehabilitation. “When I first met Nkosi, he had lost hope and struggled with trust issues. I decided to build him spiritually first, and I’m glad we’ve reached a point where he willingly wants to go to rehab. I’m also grateful that the Department of Social Development has signed him up for the next intake,” said Mabuso.

Nkosi is set to begin his rehabilitation at the Dr. Fabian and Riberio Treatment Centre in Cullinan, following his registration during the Ke Moja Friday Activation Blitz hosted by the Gauteng Department of Social Development at Ratanda Shopping Centre.