To this end, the department held an anti-gangsterism and substance abuse workshop at the Pyramid Conference Centre in Johannesburg. It was attended by about 150 reformed gang members and drug addicts who previously participated in youth camps conducted by the department in the last financial year.
The workshop also served as a platform to assess and review the progress they have made since 10Ndivhuho Gadisi of the department, the youth camps are aimed at exposing the addicted youth to rehabilitation programmes and to assist them to reintegrate back into society.
Some of the participants shared how the programme had assisted them and even discovered talents that they never knew they possessed.
One of the participants, Thapelo Maila said he was a gang member and always caused trouble in his community, but that has changed now. Maila said he was now an up-and-coming comedian and was making an honest living. This was a hidden talent that he became aware of at the youth camp.
Talking to the recovering addicts, the department’s Yoliswa Makhasi urged them not to let their situations be an excuse for them to do wrong things. “You might be poor or without parents but that should not be an excuse for using drugs or committing crime,” she said. Makhasi told them to strive to get educated which will put them in a better position to be employed.
Former alcoholic drug and addict, Msizi Nkosi gave a motivational talk to the attendees and told them that they were the only people who could break their addiction cycle. He encouraged them to think about their childhood dreams and work towards making those dreams a reality. “It’s never too late to turn your lives around. Go out there and dream again,” said Nkosi.
Attendees were also given career assessments in which they were asked about their interests, values, personal qualities and basic skills. Following this assessment, the department said it would be in a better position to see how well they could assist the recovering addicts. Those who had not finished school were encouraged to go back and complete their studies.
