Danny K on crack, Tansey Coetzee and Rosie Motene on tik, Debora Patta on cocaine, and Tamara Dey on heroin – these are the five well-known South Africans who participated in Marie Claire magazine’s campaign to highlight drug addiction, out now in the November issue. Photographed by Alexis Fotiades, the pictorial depicts the physical effects of addiction and relays the message that drug-taking is not glamorous.

“The celebrities who participated in this story each had their own motivation and story to share regarding drug addiction and we are glad they are taking a stand with us to tell the world that drug use is not what it’s made out to be,” says Kate Wilson, editor of Marie Claire SA. “We asked them to wear make-up and allow us to alter their images to illustrate the results of prolonged drug abuse. There is nothing glamorous about these portraits. They are pictures of a frightening illness and we hope that they will shock South Africans into thinking twice before getting involved in drugs. Drugs are a social evil that affects us all. Apart from the violent crime so often attributed to drug use, everyone knows someone who has battled with drugs. Addiction is a disease for which prevention is the only possible cure.”

Marie Claire is committed to highlighting social issues. The campaign in Marie Claire, supported by the South African National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SANCA), also features four rehabilitated drug addicts who share their stories and roads to recovery. Images of some of the participating celebrities will appear on street poles in Gauteng to bring the message of the campaign to a broader audience.

“Drug abuse is the most untreated treatable disease,” says Shamim Garda, national executive director of SANCA. “I encourage all South Africans to speak up and if they need help, contact SANCA and we will walk the walk with you.”

How you can help

SANCA is developing new youth drug and alcohol awareness and education programmes with the help of trained therapists who prepare educational and information packs, and also teach valuable life-skills courses at schools about the factors that could lead to drugging. These programmes currently only run in four of the nine provinces, but SANCA wants to extend them to the rest of SA, and needs your support to do so.


You can make a donation into the following account:
Bank: ABSA
Account name: SA National Council on Alcoholism
Current Account Number: 01130220483
Branch code: 335105
Name: Auckland Park.

For more information, call Shamim Garda at SANCA on 011 781 6410 or email [email protected].

About Marie Claire magazine

Marie Claire, an Associated Magazines title, is the thinking woman’s fashion magazine. It is the only South African magazine that combines international style with cutting-edge local journalism. Marie Claire is an iconic magazine worldwide, with sister editions in 32 countries, and is critically acclaimed as a pioneer of serious investigative journalism.