FROM “KING” OF THE STREETS TO COMMUNITY ADVOCATE: KARABO’S JOURNEY OUT OF ALCOHOLISM

By Tendamudzimu Goza

• Karabo Chuma, a 29-year-old from Hammanskraal, transformed his life from the depths of addiction to becoming an advocate for positive change, with the help of the Gauteng Department of Social Development.
• After a challenging childhood and years of substance abuse, Karabo sought help through the Department’s programmes, ultimately finding recovery and a renewed sense of purpose at the Life Recovery Centre in Randfontein.
• Now a volunteer at the Hammanskraal Service Point, Karabo shares his story to inspire young people to avoid the pitfalls of addiction and make better life choices.

Karabo Chuma, a 29-year-old from Hammanskraal, has a remarkable story of transformation from addiction to advocacy, thanks to the Gauteng Department of Social Development. Born in Winterveldt, Pretoria, Karabo faced a challenging childhood marked by his parents’ divorce and subsequent feelings of neglect. In search of belonging, he turned to the streets at the age of 11, where he quickly fell in with the wrong crowd.

Karabo’s need for attention and acceptance led him to alcohol abuse and criminal behaviour. He earned the street name “King” for his rebellious antics, which included stealing money and phones to fund his drinking habits. Despite enrolling at Tshwane North College to study automotive engineering, Karabo’s addiction spiralled out of control. This led to him dropping out, losing his job, straining family relationships, and losing contact with his daughter.

Feeling abandoned by his family and struggling with the realisation that he was an absent father, Karabo sought help. A visit to the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s Hammanskraal satellite office changed his life when he encountered a poster about substance abuse. Inspired to make a change, he reached out to the Department, which facilitated his entry into the Life Recovery Centre (LRC) in Randfontein.

During his rehabilitation, Karabo confronted the root causes of his addiction and learned to embrace his true self. The social workers at LRC helped him acknowledge his behavioural and alcohol problems, and he developed a disciplined and positive outlook on life. Today, Karabo volunteers at the Hammanskraal Service Point, where he shares his journey with young people, encouraging them to avoid negative influences and substance abuse.

“I got tired of being a joke to my family; I got tired of being an absent father,” Karabo reflects. “With the help of Social Development and the Life Recovery Centre, I found the strength to change my life and now focus on building a better future for myself and my family.”