Written by: Gerda Potgieter
Article source: Supplied
Thamsanqa Mpamaza, affectionately known as Lucky, is a man in his forties whose life embodies a remarkable transformation. Once a fugitive, hunted by the police for serious offences, he finds himself basking in a newfound sense of peace and freedom. For the first time, Lucky experiences the warmth of love and appreciation from those around him, a stark contrast to his tumultuous past. He credits his redemption to a profound spiritual awakening, proclaiming that he is no longer a criminal since he encountered Jesus, his Saviour.
In the small town of Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal, Lucky holds a respectable position as a security officer at Emseni Saverite, a local shop where he is valued for his dedication and commitment. His journey to this point has not been easy. By the age of sixteen, he had already ascended to the role of leader within a notorious gang, revelling in the power and influence that accompanied it. This dark chapter of his life was characterised by a destructive cycle of drug abuse, alcohol addiction, and the embrace of witchcraft. Engaging in ancestor worship and relying on potent muti to bolster his criminal endeavours, he frequently visited graveyards haunted by the presence of malevolent spirits.
Ultimately, his reckless lifestyle caught up with him, leading to his arrest and imprisonment. However, those days are now behind him, and Lucky has emerged as a changed man, ready to embrace life with hope and purpose.
“Prison did not transform me”, he said. “I was selling drugs and stabbing people in prison. I was regarded as a dangerous criminal, and I was also a gang leader in prison – a leader with influence. One day, when I was out of prison again, I was shot through my back, and the bullet went out to the front. My friend got arrested. After I left the hospital, I heard the police were looking for me”.
Thamsanqa said he had 57 criminal cases against him, but he is now cleared from them all and a free man for the first time since he started committing crimes as a youngster. So, how did he change his life around? “I have only the people of the KwaSizabantu Mission to thank for that, as well as its CYPSA restoration program I committed to. In many of those cases I was charged with, the police accused me of doing the crime. I was not even there when the crime took place. I was already at KwaSizabantu seeking help for my addictions and problems, but the police blamed me for the crimes. KwaSizabantu helped me to set the record straight”.
Thamsanqa is not married, but he has 12 children. He said he “was changing girls all the time and had children with them”. Two of his children have now passed away. He wants to build a house for his children. “This is how KwaSizabantu helps people”, he said. “They help them to become better people. Even my community is proud of me. I now walk with God. The evil spirits no longer haunt me. I no longer believe in worshipping ancestors. Once, I was a drug addict, but I no longer crave those things. The one regret I have is that my mother has passed away, and she did not have the opportunity to see how I fixed my life.”
KwaSizabantu runs, among other outreaches, annual youth conferences and the CYPSA restoration program for people with addiction challenges. Young people and adults from the streets face difficult circumstances and turn to the Mission, seeking refuge and salvation. They seek help for different reasons and various addictions. Like Thamsanqa, many of these help-seekers have been rejected by their families, friends, and society. Most of the addicts have tried rehabilitation centres at high costs without noteworthy improvement. Many have nowhere else to go. At KwaSizabantu, strangers welcome them with open arms and help without the burden of costs.
(Read the full story of how Thamsanqa changed his life around by following the link: devotedmag.co.za/rejected-from-society-welcomed-by-strangers)
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Date published: 02/12/2024
Feature image: Thamsanqa (Lucky) Mpamaza
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