Broke Kelly Khumalo once went to Somizi for petrol money

26 June 2017 - 07:00 By TshisaLIVE
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Kelly Khumalo has opened up about her turbulent past.
Kelly Khumalo has opened up about her turbulent past.
Image: Via Kelly's Instagram

Kelly Khumalo's and Idols judge Somizi Mhlongo's friendship was once put to the test when, during her battle with drugs, Kelly showed up his door asking for petrol.

Reflecting on her turbulent past and highly-publicised battle with drug addiction, Kelly told Metro FM's DJ Fresh that she approached Somizi to help her.

"He said to me 'No. I'm not giving you the petrol. I am actually giving you R300 to get petrol and go straight home,'" she said.

Somizi, who co-hosts the breakfast show with Fresh, explained that he even offered her a hot meal because he saw that she wanted to overcome her addiction.

"I have seen her go through that (drug addiction). I remember she used to come to my house. At one point I even said 'you're not leaving. I'm cooking and you're eating and this is it'. That day I realised that she wanted to be helped, not like she is tricking me," Somizi said.

Reflecting on her lowest point, Kelly said that she remembered once planning to go grocery shopping with her son, only to hallucinate the entire experience.

"I was with my son (at home) but I got so high that I was standing in one place. In my mind, I thought that I was at the mall already, I was driving already. Four hours later, I am still in my living room, my son is playing and my sister is in her room. I was like 'why am I not at the mall?' I thought I was moving but I was still in the same place. I kept asking my sister the same question over and over. I felt like I was losing my mind," she said.

That was one of the moments that made Kelly realise she had a problem. After a long battle, she was eventually able to give up her addiction and has now been clean for five years.

"When things happen to you it is for you to learn and to build the character within yourself," she said.

READ MORE:

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now