​27-year-old, Bongani Tsooane from Tshepiso in Sedibeng shared his story with the Weekly Bulletin, of how he started using drugs in an attempt to warn young people that have not yet started experimenting to stay away from drugs, and those that have started to seek help while they still can. 
Tsooane lived a typical youthful life, studying Electrical Engineering at Sedibeng College in Vereeniging. 

In his second year, he was introduced to drugs when he would go to parties with friends. 

At first, he thought he was led by peer pressure to start using but later learned that the root cause was lack of a father figure in his life, after realising that all his friends were older than him. So, he would copy everything that they do. 

“I was a substance abuser for 6 years. I was abusing crystal meth. This had a very negative impact on me, I dropped out of school, started stealing from everyone, and that led to broken trusts, broken relationships, and more. I was lost. I forgot who I was, I forgot I have a son and dreams, I forgot I could still call upon God and pray. I really hurt my loved ones.” said Tsooane. 

“Everybody looked down on me and hid their phones and purses when I was around because I was a threat, I then decided to seek help and I was assisted by a Social Worker, Eunice Redutse Mafika. She took me to a temporary homeless shelter at Saul Tsotetsi Sports Centre at Sebokeng Zone1” he added. 

Tsooane said, “I met amazing homeless people who shared their stories with me. I was offered an opportunity to go to rehab at the Freedom Recovery Centre in Nigel by my social worker, Portia Mafrika, who is now a very good friend of mine.” 

“I gave it a chance and trusted the process and today I am 2 years and 5 months clean I learned to deal with life terms without resorting to using drugs, as a solution by applying what I was taught at rehab in my everyday life and made sure it remains a part of me forever. “said Tsooane.

He believes that having support from his family played a crucial role in his recovery journey.