A former drug addict, who started using drugs at 15, reveals how he turned his life around and became a successful property investor after quitting drugs.
Born and bred in the Reiger Park flats section, Slava attended Goede Hoop Primary School. He got hooked on drugs while at Boksburg High School because he made friends with the wrong crowd.
His drug addiction saw him dropping out of the University of the Witwatersrand, where he was studying towards a qualification in marketing and business management.
Slava, the father of a 20-month-old daughter, Hope, stays in Parkrand and is married to Monte Slava. He said past life had a huge impact on his relationships with his family, in particular his mother and sister.
His parents divorced while he was still a child. He and his sister, Candice, grew up with their mother in Reiger Park. His father, who stayed in Dawn Park, died when Slava had just turned 21.
“When my father died, I got worse. I began experimenting with more types of drugs, started to stay away from home, staying awake for days and became the naughty child in the family.”
Slava fell into the trap as he wanted to fit in with the boys who were perceived as cool.
“We used to take drugs every single day, using everything from cocaine to ecstasy, Cat, acid and many others.”
He said they were buying a lot of drugs from suppliers in Boksburg North and Comet, but they would also travel outside of Ekurhuleni to places like Malibongwe and Johannesburg for the most powerful drugs.
“Maintaining this behaviour is expensive and a problem. I never resorted to crime to get money for drugs. I used to get jobs here and there but got fired for not showing up for work after paydays.
“There were times I used to blow my whole salary in two days. After that, I would sell my belongings to maintain my drug habit.”
His family took him to a local rehabilitation centre, but when he came out his appetite for drugs was undiminished, and at times even worse than before.
Everything changed when Slava was 25 and accepted an invite from his sister to go to church with her.
“My sister invited me to come to church several times, so one day I decided to just go. In the middle of the church service, I put up my hand up and made Jesus my Lord and Saviour. I said, ‘No man, this is not how my life’s supposed to be’. That’s when my life changed completely.”
Slava said after he discovered God, he quit the habit overnight. He lost all appetite for drugs, and has been clean ever since.
It was then the opportunity to start his own business came about. Finding sobriety helped him get his life back, and he started his small business selling perfume and sunglasses. He eventually started working at his mother’s cleaning company, and they later bought a food franchise.
“With assistance from my mom, I launched a property business.”
Despite having little to no experience in the property sector, he jumped at the chance and Slava Investment was formed. He learnt as he went along.
Today this business has completed more than 30 property deals across the city and KwaZulu-Natal. He buys property on auction then sells or rents out properties in different towns, including Boksburg, Kempton, Germiston and Reiger Park.
While the first few years were tough, over time the number of business deals grew.
“The first property I bought at an auction was a Van Dyk Park townhouse which I bought for about R300 000. I sold it for about R400 000. Then I bought one in Reiger Park for R170 000 and sold it.
I bought a few more houses and flats, and finally I got this building consisting of residential and business apartments opposite the Boksburg Civic Centre.
“It had nine residential units. I converted it into 31 units last year. It’s now almost fully occupied, praise God.”
Slava said of late he focuses on inner-city buildings because of their high demand for residential and business purposes.
“Most people who come from the townships and other provinces to look for work opportunities in the big cities prefer to stay in the inner city in order to be closer to work, shops, transport hubs and other amenities. In that way, you will always have tenants in the inner city.”
Slava said he always feels good that his initiative has also created dozens of job opportunities for many families.
Alongside Slava Investment, Slava is also involved in her sister’s property company called Property Pick.
He is also in the process of starting a project he hopes will grow the business into a R1-billion portfolio within the next 10 years. He plans to buy more properties and expand across Gauteng and other provinces, before going international.
Looking back on his troubled youth, Slava said he knows his life might have turned out very differently, as he understands that jail or a premature death are common final destinations for addicts.
Warning signs your child might be using drugs
Slava advised parents not to turn a blind eye to the signs that indicate that their children might be using drugs.
These include staying away from home for longer than usual, staying awake for days, not eating, weight loss, and behavioural problems both at home and school. He also advised parents to keep an eye on the company their children keep.
Never lose hope
“To those young people who find themselves in poverty, please put God first and never lose hope. Substance abuse is not the answer to your problems.
“Build up your confidence and self-esteem. Set goals and start pursuing them. You can send out CVs, but also do something while waiting for a response from your potential employer.
Not too late to quit
“To those who are battling drugs, it’s never too late to quit. We all make mistakes and learn from them. It’s time to dust yourself off and start afresh.
“Seek help. Most importantly, pray and ask God to rescue you because he is the catalyst for change.
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