LISTEN: Pretoria boy who took drugs speaks out on Breakfast with Martin Bester
One of the Pretoria school boys has broken his silence exclusively on Breakfast with Martin Bester.
Police have sent an unknown substance for urgent forensic testing after 13 teenagers from Pretoria were hospitalised for smoking the substance.
A teenager who took “herbal” drugs and landed in hospital says, “My friend bought it the day before.”
The story made headlines after the 14-year-old and three others were hospitalised.
READ ALSO: Pretoria pupil breaks silence, apologises after smoking unknown 'drug'
Speaking on Breakfast with Martin Bester, 14-year-old Marcel de Beer was joined by his mother, Violet.
Marcel took Martin into his confidence about how they ended up taking the drugs and how he had felt afterward.
We smoked it because it only lasts for 30 minutes. It isn’t nice at all. You keep falling. You feel hopeless and despondent. You can’t move properly. ”
READ ALSO: [LISTEN] Pretoria school pupils hospitalised after smoking unknown 'drug'
The pair also spoke about the recovery process - not only for Marcel but also the family. "Be there for your child. Get to know them. Do not just preach but listen.
Marcel’s mother, Violet, admitted that the most difficult thing for me was to accept the responsibility that us, as parents, are partly responsible. My husband and I had marriage problems and it affected the child.
“The video made me scared, it’s humiliating and it hurts me.”
Listen to the full conversation here: