Jafta recalls dark days as important two-year milestone is reached

By Jonathan Healy

Jafta spoke in depth with ICC Digital Insider Crystal Arnold earlier this month about her battles with alcohol, revealing the disease that plagued her had meant she ‘couldn’t remember' participating in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and had often frequented a local bar next to the gym she had planned to visit as part of her training.

It was a battle with alcohol that Jafta knew she was losing and it was with the help and urging of long-time Proteas coach Hilton Moreeng and team doctor Dr. Tshegofatso Gaetsewe that the then 27-year-old checked into an alcohol rehabilitation facility in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in October 2022.

"If you don't come clean here, I don't think you're going to make it out alive," Jafta said she admitted to herself at the time, knowing her promising cricket career had to be put on hold as she dealt with a fight for survival.

Jafta is sharing her story once again for a simple, yet powerful, reason - to help others that may be facing the same challenge she has to fight and beat every single day.

WATCH: Sinalo Jafta opens up on beating her alcohol addition

"I will suffer loudly so you don't suffer in silence," she declared.

Jafta wants people that are battling similar issues to know they are not alone and that they too can seek help and come out the other side as a better person.

While Jafta debuted for South Africa back in 2016, it's only in the last 24 months that she has found her way in life and established herself as a mainstay within the Proteas setup and behind the stumps in all formats of the game.

Raised solely by her mother Lumka, Jafta first fell in love with cricket when visiting her grandparents’ house in the school holidays as she watched legendary South Africa fast bowler Makhaya Ntini terrorise opposition batters from all over the world.

Jafta knew she wanted to be a professional athlete and, despite being a talented hockey player, she eventually chose cricket as she completed high school and went about fulfilling her ambition at the highest level.

Introduction to alcohol at university

It was at Northwest University in Potchefstroom that Jafta discovered alcohol and first realised she had a problem with it.

"I could literally go months without (alcohol), but then when I did, it was like a bender and it was a continuous bender. Like this weekend, I'm doing something then next weekend I'm doing something.

"And I think I got dropped from the national team in 2017 and I only came back in 2019. So in those two years, I think I changed a lot. I was no longer that ambitious kid. I was more resentful than anything and when I came back, I remember Coach Hilton (Moreeng) was still there and I didn’t like the guy even though he never did anything wrong.

"But I mean, those were just personal resentments. And I came to it when I was actually in rehab, but I think those resentments kind of gave me that I don't care attitude. So whatever I do, whatever you say to me, that's irrelevant as I'm going to do what I want to do.

"I didn't drink often, but I binged quite a lot. So I would say if we had a national camp, I'd stay sober. But as soon as the camp ended on that Friday, I'd have a bender. And it was literally a vicious cycle for the next two years."

Sinalo Jafta and mother Lumka Jafta celebrating the historic achievement of reaching their first ICC Women's T20 World Cup final four months after leaving rehab (Photo credits: CSA)

Hitting rock bottom

Despite continuing to play for her country sporadically, Jafta was still bingeing on alcohol, and it wasn't until the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the middle of 2022 that she realised she had a major problem on her hands.

"The Commonwealth Games was the rock bottom for me as I don't remember the Commonwealth Games,” she said.

"I try, even today, like, ‘How? Who did we play?’, but it's such a blur. And I think I was hanging (hungover) every game - and that was literally the worst part.

“And then it went into my head. They tried to call me. The trainer was trying to call me, the manager was trying to call me, the doctor was trying to call me. But I refused to answer my phone but I couldn't see them calling and I just looked at the phone and I just put it down.

"And I used to drive to the gym, get to the gym and there's a bar next door and I go to the bar. That's how bad it was.

“I had all the lies by the way. I wrote them all down. I literally wrote everything down. So if this coach asks this, I will say that. If this coach says this, I will say that. That's literally how I pinpointed it. And coach Hilton asked me, ‘Sissy, what's going on’? And for the first time I said, ‘coach, it feels like I'm in a hole and I can't get out’."

Entry into rehab

It was shortly after that Jafta entered the rehab centre in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, with South Africa placing their now first-choice wicket-keeper on indefinite medical leave and paying for her to beat her addiction.

"I entered rehab and that humbled me, but I still didn't admit that I was an alcoholic," Jafta recalled.

“At that point I realised that if I lose my cricket career, so be it ... It was my life that I was trying to get back. Whether I had a career coming back, it didn't matter.

"I think alcohol was killing me at that point if I'm being honest.

"I was called arrogant, entitled and selfish by the people I stayed with (in rehab), but it wasn't a malicious point as they cared (for me).

"But that was what it took, as I look back and I was arrogant, I was very selfish and I was very entitled. I will admit that."

Sinalo Jafta during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 semi-final applauding the Newlands crowd in Cape Town after making history to become the first South African side to reach a final (Photo credits: CSA)

Ongoing battles and support network

While Jafta's battle with alcohol has been her toughest opponent throughout her career, she has also faced ongoing battles with body image and online trolls that continue to plague professional cricketers around the globe.

The ICC recently introduced a program to help players filter out toxic content such as hate speech, harassment and misogyny on social media and Jafta was full of praise for the initiative.

"I'm happy with where it's going because now people are going to complain saying we're not allowed to have an opinion, but good for you, I guess, because now I'm protecting my mental wellbeing so that you don't have power over me,” she said.

"So I think it's a brilliant idea."

When quizzed about what message she had for online trolls, Jafta’s response was pointed.

“What I would say to them is, ‘you're allowed to have your own opinion but before you type can you actually receive it too?’”

Players embrace ICC’s AI initiative that filters out toxic social media content

Jafta is now a more balanced individual and spends less time worrying about her past demons and is more focused on flourishing as a cricketer and giving back to those that have trusted her over the journey.

Jafta's mum has been her biggest supporter over the years and it's no surprise that Lumka was the first of five names that was stitched into the keeper's shirt collar and bottom hem at the T20 World Cup as part of the Proteas' decision to wear specially designed playing shirts at the T20 World Cup.

"It's such a special touch," Jafta said.

"When I look down and see the names of those most important to me, it reminds me to always give my best and remember those who have been there for me from day one.”

Jafta also says she does not find it difficult to be around her teammates when alcohol is around because they respect where she is at with her life and has the tools to be social but just opt out of activities when she needs to.

“When I know it's my time to leave the room, everyone respects that,” she said.

“I won't be there until like 4am, but I'll make it until maybe 2am … OK, that's pushing it, maybe midnight!”

Speaking out to help others

Jafta isn't scared to tell her story and wants to be a leading voice on the matter of dealing with addiction so she can help others in their quest to enjoy a better life.

Feeling more settled off the field is helping Jafta on the field too, with the keeper now established as the Proteas' first-choice selection behind the stumps and producing some good performances with the bat and gloves.

"It's literally just sharing my experience, strength and hope with everyone,” Jafta said

"Now it's just, I'm very firm of being of service to people. How can I help? That's literally where I'm at in my life right now."

Jafta with the SA Fans Player of the Year Award at the CSA Awards 2023 in Johannesburg (Photo credits: CSA)

The key message

While Jafta has been one of the lucky ones to have taken on an addiction and beaten it, she knows that there are many people out there that are still battling their inner demons and haven't been as fortunate as her.

That's why Jafta continues to urge people to seek help if they need it.

"The despair is that there's so many people out there suffering currently that, one, are ashamed to get help, and two, just don't know how to get help," she said.

"And what gives me hope is, once you seek it and find it, there's such a beautiful life after that."

Also read: Mental Health Awareness workshops held as ICC marks World Mental Health Day

For those suffering from alcoholism please seek medical assistance or support via Alcoholics Anonymous or similar services and resources in your region.