Faith Phoebe Mahlakwana (32), the feisty anti-drug activist, hardly cuts the figure of a revolutionary. She is neither an intimidating politician nor a militant Black Consciousness socio-political commentator but a community activist determined to save the youth from drug addiction.She boasts a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Health Psychology and is a pastor who works with local youth on an anti-drug outreach programme in Elandskrall in Sekhukhune, Limpopo.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

In her village, many young people spend their days at illegal gambling dens, playing dice and cards to make some form of money ?" all these happening under a dark smoke cloud of dagga and nyaope. Pastor Faith said she was encouraged by how she helped her younger relative,Japhta (27) to kick his nine-year addiction and decided to start her outreach programme, Theophilus Ministries in May 2021. "No one would understand the pain until it happens in their own home, It is traumatic living with an addict. There was no jail or rehab that was able to help him but I miraculously succeeded through prayers and motivation' she said, adding that, "The Bible says love is patient, it never gives up. It never loses faith and love covers multitudes of sins so that really encouraged me to love him even more, though it was difficult.'

DRUG DEALERS AT WAR WITH HER

The establishment of the anti-drug programme was a good course that made her a heroine but drug dealers ordered her to stop her "nonsense'.She said "I waged a serious war fighting drug abuse but drug dealers are fighting me instead. They threatened me that they will do anything to stop me from carrying out this mission but I'm not scared' said a determined Pastor Faith. Despite financial difficulties, she still manages to prepare a meal of pap, beef stew and vegetables to serve the drug addicts. "I have noticed that addicts rarely eat, hence we volunteered to provide them with a healthy meal' she said.

KICKING THE HABIT

Seemingly, the anti-drug programme is starting to have a positive impact on the youth of this community. "We have touched many hearts through this initiative. Many addicts have managed to kick their bad habits but the journey is still long.' Jack Keetse (18), who has been an addict since 2018 and has been troubling his neighbours was almost set alight by an angry mob following accusations of theft and housebreakings to satisfy his addiction."Being an addict is not easy because every day is a struggle to raise money to buy a fix. Crime will push you to get that money. Now I want to live a better life, far away from nyaope' said Jack. Limpopo spokesperson of the Department of Social Development, Adel van der Linde, said they are funding 27 non-profit organisations that are running preventative programmes across the province to curb the usage of drugs, including nyaope.