DSD’S KEMOJA PROGRAMME GIVES HOPE AND HELP TO THOSE WANTING TO QUIT DRUGS

By Morapedi Sibeko

• Quitting drugs is not the end of the journey to recovery, the path has many steps including finding purpose, rediscovering oneself, and staying busy with meaningful activities.
• This is the advice given by three KeMoja counsellors what have walked the path of addiction and speak from experience.
• This strong message was delivered to the students beginning their adult lives in tertiary education at the Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley in the Northern Cape on 12 February 2025.

The journey to recovery from substance abuse is not just about quitting drugs; it is about rediscovering oneself, finding purpose, and staying engaged in meaningful activities.

This was the key message shared by KeMoja coaches Tshepo Manong, Elizabeth van Rooyen, and Austwille Buffel to the students at the Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, on 12 February 2025.

The three coaches are well-equipped to provide advice to the students; they are not only anti-substance abuse educators but also individuals who have walked the difficult path of addiction and recovery.

KeMoja, meaning “I’m fine without drugs”, is a Department of Social Development programme that empowers young people to make informed decisions about substance abuse. Through education and mentorship, it highlights the dangers of drugs and offers guidance on leading a positive, drug-free life.

Manong, who spent 20 years trapped in active addiction, now has nine years of sobriety.

He speaks candidly about how substance abuse, fueled by family problems and peer pressure, nearly cost him his life. A near-fatal incident involving a burn injury became his turning point. “That moment forced me to reflect if I had died, what would my life have meant?”

With the support of his family, he sought help, but his recovery was not without setbacks. A relapse, driven by unresolved anger, taught him the importance of addressing emotional wounds. “Forgiveness was the missing piece,” he says.

For Van Rooyen, substance abuse was a way to numb deep emotional pain caused by rejection and trauma, including multiple incidents of sexual violence and kidnapping.

“I searched for love and acceptance in the wrong places,” she shares. Her lowest point, where she attempted to harm her mother and son, became the wake-up call she needed.

A breakdown in a dermatologist’s office led to her admission into a mental health facility, where she began her journey to sobriety. Now, as an author and motivational speaker, she uses her story to inspire others.

Buffel, who started using drugs at a young age, lost everything to addiction before turning his life around four years ago.

His message to young people is clear: “Drugs change your entire life. Hang drugs and not your dreams.”

He emphasises the importance of staying busy in recovery. “You must keep your mind occupied, or your past habits will creep back in.”

Today, in addition to coaching, he pursues his passions of dance and rugby.

One of the biggest challenges in recovery is reintegrating into society: facing community judgment, repairing family relationships, and rebuilding self-worth requires resilience. But as the KeMoja coaches highlight, support structures and engaging activities make the journey easier.

At Sol Plaatje University, recovering students can participate in various initiatives, including the university choir, the Interact Ignite Club, which focuses on community work and donation drives, and the Data Science Club.

KeMoja is more than an awareness campaign, it is a movement that changes lives.

By sharing their experiences, Manong, Van Rooyen, and Buffel remind young people that recovery is possible, but it requires commitment, self-awareness, and the willingness to find purpose beyond addiction. “You have to stand for something,” says Manong. “If you don’t, you’ll fall for anything.”