KE MOJA BENEFICIARY REBUILDS HIS LIFE THROUGH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

By Madali Chibambu.

• A young man from Katlehong, once trapped in substance abuse, is rebuilding his life through the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s Ke Moja Programme.
• The programme, which promotes a drug-free lifestyle, helped him access counselling, rehabilitation, and vocational training.
• Today, he is pursuing a qualification in Community House Building and hopes to start his own construction business.

What began as a story of loss and despair has turned into one of hope and transformation for 28-year-old Philani Malaza from Katlehong in the Eastern Corridor. Through the Department’s Ke Moja Programme, he is now building a new life brick by brick.
Malaza’s journey to recovery began after a traumatic experience that changed his life forever. “All I can remember are the gunshots and seeing my friends lying in a pool of blood. That memory haunted me until I decided I needed to change my life,” he said, recalling the day two of his close friends were killed in front of him while another was later admitted to a mental institution due to drug abuse.
With the guidance of a dedicated social worker, Malaza received counselling and rehabilitation support. He was later referred to the Xilembeni Centre of Excellence in Bapsfontein, where he enrolled in the Community House Building (CHB) programme.
“The support I received changed everything. I want to use what I’ve learned to start small, paving people’s houses and building walls, and grow from there,” he said proudly.
His facilitator at Xilembeni shared that when Malaza first arrived, he was withdrawn and deeply traumatised. Over time, with consistent counselling and practical training, he showed remarkable progress both emotionally and academically.
The Ke Moja Programme, run by the Gauteng Department of Social Development, continues to empower recovering substance users through life skills, counselling, and vocational training. By helping young people like Malaza rebuild their confidence and livelihoods, the programme is turning recovery into opportunity, ensuring that their past does not define their future.