Hundreds of people gathered at Motale Bus Depot in Gugulethu during the gala dinner to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Realistic Organisation on Friday 23 February.
Realistic is a non-profit organisation (NPO) that works with ex-offenders and people with the challenges of substance abuse.
Realistic Social worker Tsepo Moribame described the event as the celebration of all the achievements and strides made by the organisation over the years.
He praised all the people who supported the NPO, especially during hard times. He stated that the organisation is focusing more on rehabilitating and integrating ex-offenders into the community.
“Realistic has various programmes that intend to rehabilitate patients from substance abuse. Part of our programmes include outpatients programme on substance abuse, early intervention, aftercare programme and social crime prevention,” said Moribame.
He stated that they are educating and empowering people about the dangers of substance abuse. “Our patients come and go. We don’t keep them in the centre. Our focus is more on young adults,” he said.
Elaborating on their programmes, Moribame said the outpatients’ programme is for six months and they take two groups a year. He said each group consists of 30 patients. While other programmes are for three months and don’t have a specific intake. He said their programmes are aimed at 14-year-olds and up.
However, they sometimes receive patients as young as eight years old.
“Some of them are referred by social workers, others from clinics, hospitals, courts, Department of Social Development (DSD) or parents come with them,” he said.
Moribame said most of the clients are on weed, Madrax and Tik. All the programmes are free.
Moribame stated that family members form part of the sessions. He added that they also conduct a diversion programme, where they accommodate people who come out of prison.
“Some people are disowned by their families when they come out of prison. When family members have to sign on behalf of the ex-offenders for proof of address, they don’t want to sign. So, we have a place for such people where we keep them,” he stated, adding that they keep them till they are reintegrated into the community.
However, he stated that some of their challenges are patients who relapse and lack of funds.
One of the former drug addicts Khanya Mgengwana (28) from Nyanga-East said he joined Realistic in 2015.
“I had a problem with drug abuse. I started smoking marijuana. Then I elevated Tik, Madrax, etc. I smoked drugs for six years,” said Mgengwana.
Explaining why he decided to quit drugs, he said his friends refused to smoke with him.
“It was on New Year’s Day in 2015 when I made a decision to quit drugs. My friends went out to hustle for money to smoke and I wasn’t there.
“When they came back I went to the shack where we used to smoke and I found them there. They refused to open the door for me to come in, citing that I did not go with them,” he said.
This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Mgengwana. While he was denied access to the house, some of his friends, who did not join the hustle, were allowed to enter the room.
He said he stood at the door for almost an hour till he decided to go home.
Since then he never touched drugs.
