Former drug addict starts an NPO

BEING a single mother of three at the age of 21 is what motivated former gangster and drug addict, Nomfundo Cele, to change her life for the better. Nomfundo (31) from KwaDabeka, now the founder of an NPO, Favoured Footprint has experienced it all; drug and alcohol abuse, serving jail time, rejection and sleeping in the bushes.

At the age of 15, Nomfundo dated a 24-year-old man and had her first baby. By the age of 21 she had three children from him.

“At that time I was naive and I really do not know why I kept falling for him as he was very abusive and our relationship was on and off.”

She said she started drinking ciders and smoking cigarettes while she was still a teenager.

“By the age of 21, I started using ecstasy and smoking dagga. That is when I got addicted to ecstasy. I had this uncontrollable anger, it was only when I was high that I felt happy.

“From there I was introduced to cocaine and that is where my life took a turn for the worse and I lost everything including my intern job in the Department of Transport in Pretoria and my car which I had crashed, was written off,” she said.

“I became violent and abusive. I had no respect for authority or anyone for that matter. I was arrested twice for being violent.”

At the age of 25, she had her fourth baby from another man whom she said she really cared for her.

“My anger and the life I was living chased him away and I do not blame him.”

She said the worst incident was when she slept in the bushes as she had enemies all around her.

“People who I thought were my friends turned against me and I was approached by a man who told me that he was paid to kill me.

Nomfundo said that’s when she turned to reading a Bible and praying. “Prayer really helped me to turn my life around,” she said. Despite the troubled life that Nomfundo was living, she was still studying.

“I do not know how I did it but I think through all that, the love for my children pushed me to finish my studies. My mom also played a huge role, she always told me that I owe it to my children to be a better person with qualifications.”

Nomfundo has a B Com and Honours in Transport Economics and is now finalising her Masters of commerce in transport economics which she studied through UNISA.

She has been offered office space by Ward 19 councillor, Bheki Mvubu in KwaDabeka and Wyebank where she can assist other drug addicts.

“I want to help people who want to lead a different life, free from drugs and who will also go out and help others,” she said.

Nomfundo has appealed to anyone who can assist her with office material or any resources that will help her get the project off the ground.

People who can assist or drug addicts who need help can contact Nomfundo on 063 460 6548 or email favouredfootprints@gmail.com.

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