Reclaiming my Life From Addiction

I’m Quinton Pienaar, and I’m a recovering drug addict and rehabilitated ex-convict from Postmasburg. My story is not easy to tell, but I share it because I know there are many others around here who are fighting battles just like I did — battles with drugs, crime, hopelessness, and feeling like no one sees you. 

Growing up in Postmasburg, life wasn’t simple. There weren’t many opportunities for young people. I didn’t have much guidance and ended up learning everything I knew from the streets. That path led me to places I never imagined I’d go. I started drinking when I was still a kid, then moved on to marijuana, mandrax, and crystal meth. Later it was CAT and nyaope. The drugs took over my life. 

The streets here can be unforgiving. When you don’t have support at home or in the community, it’s easy to fall into the wrong crowd. I was always around older guys and wanted to act tough and grown. That landed me in deep trouble, and I began living a life that hurt not only me but also the people I loved most. My mother tried to help me, but eventually, even she had to walk away. The pain I caused her will always stay with me. 

By the time I dropped out of school, I was already far gone. I lost jobs, stole to feed my habit, and got caught up in crime. I ran with gangs and had turf in town. But even with all that, I felt empty. The deeper I went, the more I lost — my dignity, my relationships, and my sense of who I was. 

Postmasburg is a place with strong people, but also real challenges. Drug use is everywhere. Families are breaking. Young people are dropping out of school, getting caught in crime, or stuck in cycles of unemployment and hopelessness. I was just one of many. 

One day, I reached rock bottom. I was alone, broke, sick, and tired. I still had my faith, though. I grew up in the Old Apostolic Church, and even in my darkest moments, I could still hear God’s voice telling me not to give up. That’s when something shifted. 

I met a woman from the community and some men from the church who invited me to attend services. They saw something in me, even when I didn’t. They said if I showed up every day, they would help send me to rehab. That offer was like a light in the darkness. 

I didn’t tell my mother. I wanted her to see me change, not just hear about it. After that Sunday, I left for Lenasia where my recovery journey began. It was hard, but it saved my life. I learned what accountability, honesty, and purpose really mean. 

When I came back to Postmasburg, I knew I couldn’t keep what I had learned to myself. Alongside others, we started a support group at the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church. We visited schools, the local clinic, and the police station, sharing our stories to help others find hope. Some of my fellow volunteers relapsed, and we realized we needed more structure and support. 

That’s when I joined the Tsantsabane Alcohol and Drug Services (TADS) outpatient and aftercare programs. Then, through Vroue Aksie in Postdene, I was introduced to a training opportunity provided by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) and the Rural Development Support Programme (RDSP), supported by the Lesedi Solar Park Trust. That training gave me real tools — manuals, guidance, and a support network that helped me grow stronger in my own recovery and better equipped to help others. 

Today, I use everything I’ve learned to support people in our town who are still struggling. I speak at schools and community events, and I’m part of networks that focus on healing and restoration. Postmasburg has a lot of pain, but it also has potential. I believe that if more people come forward, if we listen and support each other, we can build something different. 

I tell my story so that someone else can see themselves in it. I don’t want people to look at our differences, I want them to see our similarities. You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom to make a change. I made it out, but not everyone gets a second chance. I want my story to be a warning and a light. I am also a co-founder to an organisation named Gift of Desperation that helps people who struggle with addiction.

Thanks to the support of the Lesedi Solar Park Trust, the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance, and the Rural Development Support Programme, I now have the strength and structure to keep going. I won’t stop, because I know there’s someone out there who still needs to hear that it’s not too late