Joburg mayor Tau's son admits to drug problem

26 June 2016 - 02:00 By DOMINIC MAHLANGU and KHANYI NDABENI

The son of Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau has spoken publicly about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction, describing how he hit rock bottom and attempted suicide. Karabo Tau, 24 - who has been clean for 18 months - told his emotional story at the launch of a drug awareness campaign in Eldorado Park on Friday.While Karabo did not respond to messages from the Sunday Times, his father yesterday confirmed his son's battle with drugs, calling it a "painful journey".People who attended the event said Karabo described how, in December 2014, after he had gone through about 26 bags of cocaine with friends, he sent a text to his father saying he had a problem and needed help. When he woke up later and remembered what he had done, he tried to take his own life.Karabo did not give details of the suicide attempt, but said it had set him on "a journey to overcoming a 10-year alcohol and drug addiction problem".He was speaking at the launch of the Crystal Church's "sharing without shame" drug awareness campaign.Several people who attended said Karabo told the group he had started drinking at 14, downing the dregs of alcohol in discarded bottles."He said that he went on to using cocaine after being introduced to it by a beautiful girl," one attendee said. "Once he realised how his system reacted to the cocaine - it made him sober when he was drunk - it became his drug of choice."Karabo reportedly said that his family responded to his call for help by offering to take him to rehab. He started using again in rehab, but then decided to turn his life around."I have now gone without drugs for a year, six months and four days - thanks to the courage I had to reach out to my father and the support given by my family and friends," he told the crowd.Parks Tau said he had supported his son "like any other parent would do"...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.