​A 23-year-old Thuso Sotyingwa impressed everyone with his testimony during the opening of Bambisandla-Sam Centre of Excellence in Wedela, West Rand.
A recovering substance user from Fochville said the centre has transformed himself to become a better person who has dreams and goals. The multi-talented Sotyingwa told the guests and dignitaries during his testimony including the Gauteng Social Development MEC Morokane Mosupyoe that he is Fashion Designer, Guitarist, Poet and he also plays the saxophone.

Addressing guests Mosupyoe pledged to support Sotyingwa’s business by ordering a dress from him after the event.

Mosupyoe also encouraged guests and the Department to support small and local businesses in order for them to create jobs.

Sotyingwa said he was raised in a Christian family by both his biological parents who made sure that no one goes to bed hungry but due to peer pressure from his friends, he ended up smoking weed.

“We then started a band with my friends to raise money to buy drugs since we were no longer smoking weed. We used to perform at taxi ranks and people were supporting us not knowing that with that money we were buying drugs like crystal meth” he explained.

“No one forced me to visit the Gauteng Department of Social Development offices to seek help. I went there alone however the Social Worker needed a consent from my parents and I had to ask my mother to accompany me. She was then asked to sign forms for substance abuse rehabilitation and everyone at home was shocked” says Sotyingwa.

He was then admitted for rehabilitation and stayed on the programme for three months and when he completed, he was clean and stayed off drugs from that day on.

As part of the aftercare program, he was referred to Bambisandla-Sam Centre of Excellence where he started fashion designer course. His dream is to start his boutique where he will specialize in vintage style and music.

“I would like to bring back the old fashion style to the new generation where they will wear ties, suits and bow hats. Music is in my blood as you can see that I play the guitar with passion. My dream is to employ and train the youth from disadvantaged communities. As the MEC stated some of us are born to create jobs,” Sotyingwa says.

He added that what he went through was a learning curve and this is the beginning of his new journey and people will read more about him in magazines.