My Story
I was born and raised on the Cape Flats — a place of strength, resilience, and deep pain. Here, addiction is not an individual struggle. It is woven into daily life, fuelling violent crime, family breakdown, and gender-based violence. Alcohol and drugs don’t just destroy the user — they ripple through homes, leaving women and children most exposed to harm.
I lived inside that reality for 25 years.
“In my community, addiction doesn’t arrive alone — it brings violence, silence, and broken homes with it.”
1
Twenty-Five Years in Addiction
For more than two decades, alcohol and drugs shaped my decisions, my relationships, and my future. I lost friends to addiction — some to the streets, some to prison, and some to death. Like many others, I carried unresolved childhood trauma, grief, and anger without the tools to process them.
"Addiction became survival. Then it became a prison."
2
The moment Everything Changed
My life did not turn around through punishment.
It changed because someone chose compassion.
At work, an intervention took place. Instead of being discarded, someone reached out a hand and offered help. That act of humanity led me to RAMOT Addiction Treatment Centre in Parow.
RAMOT didn’t just help me get clean — they helped me understand myself. Through therapy, structure, accountability, and care, I began addressing the root causes of my addiction.
“One hand reaching out can change the course of a life.”
3
Rebuilding Through Education
Recovery demands purpose. Sobriety alone is not enough.
Through perseverance and support, I enrolled at TSIBA Business School — studying full-time while working full-time and staying committed to recovery. TSIBA gave me access to education I never believed was possible for someone with my background.
"Education restored my confidence, discipline, and belief that my past did not define my future."
4
Running as Recovery
Running became my therapy.
It taught me routine, self-discipline, and how to sit with discomfort without escaping it. Celtic Harriers Club embraced me, supported me, and helped turn a personal coping mechanism into something much bigger.
With their support, I ran from Cape Town to Durban — the Serenity Run.
“Running didn’t just change my body — it rebuilt my mind.”
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The most dangerous moment in recovery is not detox — it is after rehab, when people return to the same environments without support, structure, or hope.