Early years
Tiaan is 34 years old. He is the 2nd youngest sibling of four. He grew up in Russell Skema, which is known for crime, gangsterism, addiction, and low moral standards. He was a sensitive boy who was exposed to domestic violence. His parents eventually divorced after his dad was imprisoned. He struggled to control his emotions. At age 16, he was triggered by something discriminatory said to him by his teacher, and he committed arson at the school. He was expelled.
Off to Jo’burg
Tiaan didn’t continue his schooling after being expelled, and because he just hung around, his mother sent him to live with his elder brother in Johannesburg. There, he worked at a shop, but was caught over-charging customers and pocketing the money.
In Johannesburg, Tiaan started smoking weed and was introduced to Tik and alcohol. Because of continually making wrong choices and illegally obtaining money, doors began to close for him, and eventually, he was homeless. He ended up sleeping in a bathroom.
Back to Worcester
A family friend bought Tiaan a bus ticket to return to Worcester. At this stage, Tiaan was 22 years old. He lived with his mom and stepdad, who was like a father to him. One night, his mother started screaming in the house that his stepdad was dying. Tiaan rushed to his bed, lifting him in his arms, looked him in the eyes and begged him not to go. “I need you, please don’t leave me!” His stepdad’s throat made gurgling sounds, and suddenly his body went limp in Tiaan’s arms.
Step up?
After this incident, Tiaan knew he had to step up to be the man in the house. He acknowledges: “The way I became the man in the house was not right. I became a gangster at the age of 23. I was involved with gang activities, robbing people, hurting people, stabbing people, shooting people and by now I was addicted to drugs. My deeds caught up with me, and I landed in prison for 5 years.”
Life after prison
“I was released from prison in 2019. That’s the year when I met Marcheline and when I started smuggling drugs. We were in a relationship for two years when we were blessed with a daughter. I had another court case against me, but having a daughter and facing the prospect of 12 years’ imprisonment, placed me in a predicament because I could see my daughter was very attached to me. I remember before going to court, I went to Brendan at Moria House (see his story on our website) and asked him to pray for me. When I was in the witness stand, I prayed: ‘Lord, if You help me today, I will turn my life around!’”
Miraculously, the case was withdrawn, but Tiaan forgot about the promise he made to God. He stole Marcheline’s sister’s phone and bank card, and he was asked to leave the house. When he saw how this affected his daughter – she was very attached to him – it broke him. He went to Change Makers, asking for help. He was admitted in April 2023.
Change Makers
“I didn’t grow up in a Christian house. It was Change Makers who made me aware of the presence of God, that He loved me and why Jesus came to earth. He came to save me and to set me free. I became aware of God’s purpose for my life.”
After graduating from the Behaviour Modification Program 6 months later, Tiaan stayed in Level 4 of our program while doing his apprenticeship at Bro’s Street Food. When he felt stable enough to leave the safety and protection of Moria House, Tiaan moved back to live with Marcheline, whom he married in December 2024. Tiaan has been working at RC Pallets for the past 10 months. His employer describes him as an honest, faithful, trustworthy and hard worker, who is an example to all those around him.
Tiaan is in our Bible School and sees himself as an ardent youth worker, reaching out to the boys in his neighbourhood. He has big dreams for them.
We wish you all the best, Tiaan, and we know your dream is to one day have your own place to live. May God’s face continue to shine upon you.
