Mitchell's Plain woman turns struggles into hope

SHE once spent years trapped in addiction, hiding from her family and herself.

- SIBULELE KASA

Now, Natasha Mentoor uses her experiences to guide homeless people through recovery, proving that even the darkest chapters can lead to a life of purpose and hope.

As manager of the Parow Centre of Hope, she encourages women to celebrate their power and pursue a world where every woman can flourish.

Her turning point came at age 24, after five years trapped in addiction, when her mother discovered drugs hidden in her bedroom.

"I remember coming from a party one night, and my mother had found a stash of things. She confronted me. And it was, wow, I think it was the worst day of my life.

"If I'm going to be honest with you, I think all the times and all the years that I learned to hide things from her, she finally caught me. And to her, it was a big disappointment," she said.