Makhosazana Sibeko has been taking crystal meth and Thai for more than 20 years. The 42-year-old former slay queen is among thousands of homeless individuals battling substance addiction while living on the dangerous pavements of the Johannesburg CBD.
She says she started using drugs when she was 20 years old, after she moved from her hometown of Durban to Johannesburg in search of a better life. She says she was lured by the glamorous lifestyle of her friends, who were working as models and escorts.
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https://twitter.com/City_Press/status/1683004019025801216?s=19
“I wanted to be like them, to have nice clothes, cars, and money. They introduced me to drugs and told me they would make me feel good and confident. They also said it would help me lose weight and look more attractive,” she says.
She says she soon became addicted to crystal meth, which is also known as ice, and started spending all her money on the drug. She says she also started using Thai, a mixture of heroin and drugs that is cheaper and more accessible than crystal meth.
“I lost everything because of drugs. I lost my job, my family, my friends, and my dignity. I became a slave to drugs. I would do anything to get money for drugs, even steal and sell my body,” she says.
Sibeko says she has been living on the streets for the past 15 years, sleeping under bridges, in abandoned buildings, or in makeshift shelters. She says she has been raped, beaten, and robbed several times by other drug users and criminals. I tried to quit drugs many times but always relapsed because of the withdrawal symptoms and the lack of support. She says she has also been turned away from some rehabilitation centres because she cannot afford to pay for their services.
“I regret everything I have done because of drugs. I wish I could go back in time and make different choices. I wish I could have a normal life again—a home, a family, a job. But I don’t know how to start over,” she says.
Sibeko says she still has some hope for the future, especially after meeting Xolani Khumalo, who presents the popular anti-drug show Sizokuthola on Moja Love. Khumalo and his crew visited Sibeko and other drug addicts in Johannesburg as part of their mission to expose the drug scourge and help those who want to quit.
Khumalo gave her some advice and encouragement and promised to help her find a rehabilitation centre that would accept her for free. She says she is willing to give up drugs and start a new life.
“I appreciate what Khumalo is doing for us. He is not judging us or looking down on us. He is showing us that we are not alone and that there is hope for us. He is giving us a chance to change our lives,” she says.
She says she hopes that her story will serve as a warning to other young women who are tempted by drugs and the slay queen lifestyle.
“Drugs are not worth it. They will destroy your life and your dreams. They will make you lose everything you love and value. Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that drugs are cool or fun. They are not. They are evil,” she says.
Source:
News24.com
https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/whats-in-city-press-drug-dealer-dies-after-sizokuthola-visit-188-voters-registered-in-one-house-20230723.
https://headtopics.com/za/from-slay-queen-to-drug-addict-a-life-of-regret-on-johannesburg-s-streets-city-press-41450359.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/celeb-news/slay-queen-arrested-for-theft-photos-breaking-25-june-2023/.
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