A good Samaritan has opened her home to 45 nyaope addicts.
Catherine Makeke, 50, rehabilitates addicts in her Teanong home in Tembisa.
Nyaope is a concoction of heroin, dagga and other harmful substances.
Makeke uses prayer, motivational talks, counselling, fitness, arts and sports to keep the addicts busy.
Sowetan has reported that Tembisa residents are under siege from addicts who steal metal to sell for money to support their habit.
Churches are not exempt either as brass candle holders, bells and crucifixes are targeted.
Makeke said she counsels addicts and gives them hope.
She opened her doors in November last year and registered the Makeke Drug Addicted Centre in February this year.
Her six-bedroom home, a single garage and two outside rooms have been converted into dormitories.
Makeke lives near a busy taxi route where addicts assist taxi commuters to get onto taxis in exchange for money to support their habit.
She said she was often disturbed by addicts who came to her house asking for food.
"I love children and I show them the right way. I would prepare water for them to bath and then give them food. I realised I could do more to help them.
"After spending a day in my house, some of them would ask to stay longer because they did not think about smoking when they were with me," she said.
Makeke said although she was not a qualified social worker she was able to offer counselling.
"I've voluntarily attended a few workshops on HIV/Aids, proactive, time and conflict management and motivational talks before, and I use that knowledge to counsel them," she said.
Makeke said she began with four addicts and the number increased through word-of-mouth. Since November, she has helped more than 300 addicts, who she takes to Tembisa Hospital for detox medication.
But she cannot take in any more people because of space constraints.
She said she had asked for doctors and psychologists to help monitor the addicts' progress but the hospital was not cooperating.
"The hospital does not care about treating addicts. All they want is to test them for HIV and expect them to queue with the sick, yet some of them do not have the patience," she said.
The Gauteng department of health said it had no working partnership with Makeke.
Provincial social development spokesman Thebe Mohatle did not respond to requests for comment.
ratsatsip@sowetan.co.za
Nyaope centre offers hope
A good Samaritan has opened her home to 45 nyaope addicts.
Catherine Makeke, 50, rehabilitates addicts in her Teanong home in Tembisa.
Nyaope is a concoction of heroin, dagga and other harmful substances.
Makeke uses prayer, motivational talks, counselling, fitness, arts and sports to keep the addicts busy.
Sowetan has reported that Tembisa residents are under siege from addicts who steal metal to sell for money to support their habit.
Churches are not exempt either as brass candle holders, bells and crucifixes are targeted.
Makeke said she counsels addicts and gives them hope.
She opened her doors in November last year and registered the Makeke Drug Addicted Centre in February this year.
Her six-bedroom home, a single garage and two outside rooms have been converted into dormitories.
Makeke lives near a busy taxi route where addicts assist taxi commuters to get onto taxis in exchange for money to support their habit.
She said she was often disturbed by addicts who came to her house asking for food.
"I love children and I show them the right way. I would prepare water for them to bath and then give them food. I realised I could do more to help them.
"After spending a day in my house, some of them would ask to stay longer because they did not think about smoking when they were with me," she said.
Makeke said although she was not a qualified social worker she was able to offer counselling.
"I've voluntarily attended a few workshops on HIV/Aids, proactive, time and conflict management and motivational talks before, and I use that knowledge to counsel them," she said.
Makeke said she began with four addicts and the number increased through word-of-mouth. Since November, she has helped more than 300 addicts, who she takes to Tembisa Hospital for detox medication.
But she cannot take in any more people because of space constraints.
She said she had asked for doctors and psychologists to help monitor the addicts' progress but the hospital was not cooperating.
"The hospital does not care about treating addicts. All they want is to test them for HIV and expect them to queue with the sick, yet some of them do not have the patience," she said.
The Gauteng department of health said it had no working partnership with Makeke.
Provincial social development spokesman Thebe Mohatle did not respond to requests for comment.
ratsatsip@sowetan.co.za
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