Mayor Tau’s son tells Yellow Ribbon event of his pain of drugs

27 June 2016

 

Karabo Tau, the son of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau, gave drug addiction a prominent human face on Friday June 24 when he described how drugs almost destroyed his life.

 

Now a recovering addict, the 24-year-old Karabo tugged at heartstrings as he told a 200-strong crowd in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse of the immense pain his addiction had caused his family and how their support had helped him recover.

The Yellow Ribbon event was organised by anti-drugs activist and founder of Crystal Sharing Without Shame (CSWS) Dereleen James. James, who three years ago was battling with her son’s addiction, shot to prominence when she wrote to President Jacob Zuma pleading with him and the government to shut down drug dens and help her community fight drug abuse. Today, her organisation and the Gauteng Anti-Drug Abuse Initiative run a centre at which 25 recovering drug addicts are being helped back on their feet.

Karabo, who has been clean for 18 months, was one of several youths who addressed the event, which was also attended by his mother and Johannesburg Mayoress Pilisiwe Twala-Tau, Gauteng MEC for Social Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza and City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Shared and Corporate Services Cllr Mally Mokoena.

The event also coincided with the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Youth Month. Eldorado Park, the venue of the event, is one of the worst drug-inflicted communities in Johannesburg.

“Drug addiction does not discriminate and recovery is not easy,“ Karabo told the gathering.

“Drug abuse is a personal choice … As addicts we don’t realise how many people we’re hurting. You need the support of family. Today, thanks to my parents’ support, I’m living a sober life ... Sobriety is amazing. My life is 10 times better now in recovery,” he said.

Although he has no political ambitions, Karabo said: “I've very big shoes to fill. But I’m going to be a person who stands up for a drug-free Johannesburg.”

His mother said more education was needed to elevate the scourge of drugs to the same level as HIV-Aids and cancer. She and the City’s Spousal Office have been working closely with James and her CSWS in a bid to stop the scourge of drugs in Johannesburg.

“Drug addiction is not getting the attention it deserves. We can do what Gail and Nkosi Johnson did with HIV-Aids. Let’s make the yellow ribbon as visible as the red and pink ribbons for HIV-Aids and cancer,” she said.

“We need everyone to rally around drug abuse. As a mother this (addiction) is not something you wish for your worst enemy. That’s why we all have to support our children. We need to stop the denialism. As parents if we don’t involve ourselves in our children’s lives, we are leaving a vacuum [that they fill with drugs],” she said.

Some of the youths Karabo shared the stage with were Ramon Bidderson, Shaylon de Jager and Alethea Daniels. Bidderson, who abused drugs and alcohol for nine years and is now in recovery, pleaded with mothers not to give up on their addicted children.

De Jager, who has been clean for seven months, said: “I used to do insane things for drugs. But I realised that there is a way out. I love my mother and my family. I love my life every day. Let’s strive for a clean Eldos, Johannesburg and South Africa.”

Daniels, an addict for 17 years, said she lost everything, including her children.

“Since I joined CSWS, I have been clean for 48 days,” she said.

Said James: “Like the youth of 1976, the youth of today are facing new struggles. Let’s break the silence and stigma against drug abuse.”

MEC Mayathula-Khoza said the Gauteng government was “very proud“.

“Great things are happening in Eldos,” the MEC said.

She said James’s action had resulted in the imprisonment of three drug kingpins and the closure of 37 lolly lounges.

“If we can get rid of drugs in Eldos we can do it everywhere in South Africa," she said.