Zondwa Nokhepeyi recounts his long struggle with drug abuse
It has taken him more than 20 years, but Zondwa Nokhepeyi, 36, is finally beating drug addiction.
He is now seven months and seven days clean, for the first time since entering the dark world of addiction when he was just 14 years old.
Nokhepeyi, originally from Komani but now living in East London, spoke at the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) 70th celebration and AGM on Wednesday.
The recovering drug addict said he had seen that he was digging his own grave, and had decided to seek help.
Sanca is a non-profit organisation that strives to address substance abuse and various addictions through the provision of specialised education, prevention, treatment and aftercare services.
“I started with a cigarette, progressed to a joint, and it got worse. My father was against it,” he said.
Nokhepeyi, who was in grade 9 at the time, said he would get sick and then return to drugs after recovering.
He dropped out of university twice.
“I would do anything for drugs,” he said.
His relationship with his family became strained.
“I did not realise I was my own worst enemy,” he said.
“Addiction is such a powerful and conniving disease.
“I lived by crime for the longest time of my life. I have been to prison and have been stabbed and the only thing I could think about was when I got out was to get my fix.
“I stole many things from numerous family members. I completely spoiled our relationship, and no-one wanted anything to do with me except my younger brother.”
After realising he was digging his own grave, in 2019 he took his first step and went to Sanca.
It did not last long and he went back to his old ways.
“I was here for the wrong reasons and two days later I was back at what I do best.”
In 2021, Nokhepeyi decided he wanted to change.
He was admitted to a new programme and was able to stay clean for 21 days.
“That was probably the best 21 days of my life. I was looking forward to a change.”
It had been a hard journey to where he was now, he said.
“I found my life completely changing. The friends I had and the things I did completely changed, even the music I listened to because everything to me is a trigger. So, you never want to go there, you never want to try it.
“I am grateful to the centre. I was supposed to stay for four weeks and it became extended.
“Not everything is perfect. I have harmed a lot of people along the way. I have harmed myself.”
Nokhepheyi said he took it one day at a time and lived to be better the next day.
“Just for today, if I sleep sober today, I will do it again tomorrow and again, and again,” he said.
Sanca Eastern Cape director Roger Weimann said their highlights had been seeing the programme grow and help numerous people over the years.
“The people are now starting to understand how important this work is,” he said.
“Finally, people are starting to see that this is not something we can hide. It can affect the people we love.
“For me the proudest moment of the centre is that we are still here and still doing this work even though for so long people did not want to hear our story.”
He said they had about 120 people wanting to go into recovery and 16 had been admitted.
“Even when we discharge them we offer an aftercare programme.”
He said seeing people recover made him excited.
“It makes me feel good. When they arrive a lot of them have nowhere else to go and the fact that they come to us is the reason we do this,” he said.
I found my life completely changing. The friends I had and the things I did completely changed, even the music I listened to because everything to me is a trigger. So, you never want to go there, you never want to try it