By: Natasha Archary
When you look at Innocent ‘BOBO’ Masuku now, you will just be able to notice the once popular TV star from the drama series Yizo Yizo.
The former star and musician has been struggling to overcome his drug addiction which cost him his acting career.
After he spoke out about the dangers of drug use on Youth Day this year, many were concerned about the former star and called for intervention to help him get the rehabilitation he needed.
What’s ironic is that Yizo Yizo, tackled issues such as teen pregnancy, sex work, abuse, HIV/AIDS and alcohol and drug abuse.
While he played a drug addict on the series, off-screen BOBO was battling his own demons which pushed him to drugs.
“There’s so many regrets I have because I lost so many opportunities while I was using. Drugs cost me to lose all my friends, family stopped trusting me and I can’t get that time back, you understand. Everything you saw on-screen was what was happening off-screen which is the sad truth and I felt completely trapped. Yizo Yizo was like a mirror which was reflecting everything that was happening in my life.”
BOBO opens up about his drug addiction
WATCH: Yizo Yizo star, Innocent ‘BOBO’ Masuku opens up about his drug addiction
I lost everything to drugs
Speaking about everything he’s lost because of drugs, BOBO says that the money, cars, houses and lifestyle he lost was nothing compared to him losing the faith of his family, including his children.
“Drugs is not just an individual problem and I was selfish because I didn’t understand how my drug use was affecting my baby mama and my kids. I wasn’t present when they needed me, you know. There were so many important moments I missed which I can’t get back.
As much as I’m trying to reconnect, I can’t blame them for not wanting me around them. You know, I didn’t care about what they were feeling, it was all about me getting my next fix, my next hit. Because this thing with drugs, it’s all in your mind, you know so I had to get high so I could escape my mind.”
While he’s just 6-weeks sober, BOBO is determined to get clean and change his life around because he realises that he was on the wrong path.
“I would do anything to get my hands on drugs. This thing of drugs is so demonic you know, you would even threaten the people you love if they confront you and ask you to change.
So, they were scared and I don’t blame them, I wasn’t anyone they felt safe with.”
As much as Innocent ‘BOBO’ Masuku has forgiven himself for everything he did while he was using drugs, he says there’s still a long way to go.
“Going to rehab has helped me in a big way, to reflect and do a lot of self-introspection. I had to forgive myself because I couldn’t keep living in the past.
I need to do everything I can in the moment, take it a day at a time, a step at a time and not dwell on the past. I can’t change that.”
BOBO may not be where he wants to be yet but he’s continuously working on improving and with the help of his sponsors and mentors, he’s positive he’s on the right path to recovery.
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