FREEDOM FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AT FREEDOM RECOVERY CENTRE

By Precious Mupenzi.

•  Ahead of World Drug Day, two women from Freedom Recovery Centre in Nigel share their powerful journeys from trauma to healing
• Their stories highlight the importance of trauma-informed care and long-term rehabilitation support

The Department of Social Development will commemorate the day in Standerton, Mpumalanga, with a national engagement event
As South Africa prepares to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June, two women at the Freedom Recovery Centre in Nigel are sharing their deeply personal stories of addiction and recovery to inspire others seeking a second chance at life.
Freedom Recovery Centre, a specialised in-patient facility funded by the Department of Social Development, offers structured, gender-sensitive support to individuals recovering from substance abuse. Its holistic model includes detoxification, counselling, life skills development and relapse prevention.
One of the women, Thandeka Tshabalala*, a 32-year-old mother from Springs, began her recovery journey after surviving a traumatic ordeal that left her psychologically shattered and vulnerable to substance abuse. Her daughter had been admitted to ICU, and on her way to visit, Thandeka accepted a lift from a stranger who abducted her.
Held captive, drugged and abused by someone she later discovered was a police officer, she eventually escaped, only to be returned to the same house by local police. She escaped again, but fear and trauma overwhelmed her. “Drugs became my way of coping,” she said.
Thandeka’s turning point came when she saw a Department of Social Development vehicle promoting anti-substance abuse messages. She asked for help and was referred to Freedom Recovery Centre. Today, she works at the Centre, mentoring other women. “I got my life back. And now I’m helping others do the same.”
Esther Kuzwayo*, a 33-year-old mother of two, arrived at the Centre in April 2025 after years of battling alcohol dependency. A qualified early childhood practitioner, she lost her job, her health and the custody of her youngest child due to her addiction.
“I gave up on life long ago,” she said. “There were times I gave my baby alcohol so she could sleep while I went out drinking. I live with that guilt every day.”
Despite prior attempts to recover through outpatient services, Esther found lasting change only after gaining admission to Freedom Recovery Centre. “For the first time, I’ve been sober since April,” she said.
She is now working to rebuild her relationships, particularly with her sister and children. Esther also called on government to increase the number of in-patient facilities for women and to extend programme durations. “Six weeks is not enough for everyone. Some people give up before they get help,” she said.
As the Department of Social Development prepares to host a national commemoration of World Drug Day in Standerton, these stories offer a powerful reminder that healing is possible. Both women agree that the key to change lies in compassion, access to services, and the courage to ask for help.
Their message is simple: it is never too late to choose recovery.
*Not their real names