Botshabelo filmmaker Kabelo Hlobelo (29) has captivated his community with raw Kasi short films straight from the hood. But his real story unfolds off-screen: a battle with addiction, a life-changing rehab journey, and the hard work of reclaiming sobriety.
Kabelo says the road to rehab was rocky, as at the time, he did not even see the need for it. Life before sobriety was filled with messy highs, missed opportunities, and strain on his family relationships. After hitting rock bottom, he made the difficult but necessary decision to choose recovery.
Listening to others share their experiences during group therapy sessions made Kabelo realise how deeply drugs had taken control of his life — and how losing himself was his biggest fear. He dedicated his time at New Life New Birth Rehabilitation Centre to rebuilding his life and committing to sobriety. Attending peer-support groups, engaging in creative outlets like filming Kasi stories, and receiving family visits helped him avoid the temptation of relapse.
“I leaned on routines like gym sessions, journaling, sponsor calls, and focused on everything that was aimed at improving my life,” said Kabelo.
Today, Kabelo’s sober routine includes dawn workouts, scriptwriting sessions, community film shoots, and evenings spent with loved ones. He encourages others struggling with substance abuse to seek help, build accountability, and chase purpose over temporary highs.
“Choose your passion. One step at a time, you reclaim your power. Drugs dim your light, choose creativity, work, and Kasi pride instead,” he says.
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