Former drug addict speaks about how he turned his life around
Kodisang said, fearing to die alone, his friend lied to the mob and told them he (Kodisang) was also involved in the crime.
Andrew Kodisang (43) from Dindela, Vosloorus, told a very touching story of how being addicted to drugs led to him losing his job, his house, cars and his family.
Kodisang delivered his speech and advised the youth to stay away from drugs during the Drug and Substance Abuse Awareness Campaign, an initiative by St James Methodist Women Fellowship, at the St James Methodist Church in Vosloorus on June 15.
He said bad friends introduced him to nyaope and left him to deal with the consequences all by himself.
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Elaborating on how his life turned into a mess, Kodisang said he worked for Unilever as a machine operator and was getting a good salary for it.
He added he was happily married and had beautiful children.
“I had a very good job, cars, a house, furniture and dogs that were guarding my yard. But I ended up selling everything and remained with only an empty house,” Kodisang said.
He said it all started in 2010.
“My wife and children could not stand the humiliation I put them through because I ended up spending most of my time in hostels, where I met other nyaope addicts, instead of spending time with my family. As a result, my wife took my children and went back to her family.”
Kodisang also shared how he lost his job. He said he ended up being unproductive at work, went to work late and sometimes didn’t go to work at all. He always had financial problems, which led him to steal from the company.
“One day my bosses were fed up with my attitude and dismissed,” he said.
In 2014, after he had sold everything, he and his friend started stealing from their own community. One day his friend was caught by community members while stealing. They beat him up, tied him to a tree with a chain and threatened to kill him.
He said he was also beaten, tortured, tied to the tree, petrol poured over him and almost burnt alive by the mob for something that he did not do.
Kodisang said they were saved by the police.
“A woman who saw the mob justice called the police and they saved us,” said Kodisang.
“That is when I decided to change and turn my life around. I looked for help and found it at Kamva Elitsha Vosloorus Community Based Services (KEVCBS). They organised for me to go to rehab and get help.”
KEVCBS is a non-profit organisation that works with drug addicts.
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Kodisang said KEVCBS helped him and even gave him a job, finding help for other drug addicts.
He said after rehabilitation he has been clean since 2014. He now lives happily with his family and is working hard to get back everything he lost.
