After going public about his drug addiction in the early 2000s, the jazz musician, Tsepo Tshola, has reportedly relapsed.
According to his colleagues in his record label, The Village Pope battled with addiction for 17 years.
"Tshepo has been hanging out with his old friends. The past year was worse, especially for his management.
"They struggled to get him go back in the studio and shows because they didn't know his whereabouts and couldn't get hold of him," said a source.
His album was delayed because Tsepo was nowhere to be found.
The colleague said the musician would go on a drug binge and sleep for days.
Meanwhile, his manager Tumi Mokwena was apparently frustrated.
"Tumi was frustrated and angry with him.
"A couple of years ago the Village Pope became a national hero when he went public about his substance abuse, but he changed that again," said another source.
It was reported that he conquered 17 years of addiction to drugs and booze with the help of Musicians and Artists Assistance Programme of South Africa (Maapsa).
At the time, Tshepo was booked into a rehab for three months at Tabankulu Recovery Centre, in Cape Town.
Tsepo said after rehab: "One thing rehab does is take out the arrogance from an addict's life. Indeed, the arrogance of a drugged or a drunken person is ridiculous and I really see 'A New Dawn' as a statement of humbleness.
"It represents a completely fresh start for me," Tshepo said at the time.
He admitted that it took a lot of courage to go public.
Last week, Tumi Mokwena refused to comment on the matter, saying: "I don't want to talk about it. Leave that story. I'll give you better insight into what is really happening."
- Dailysun
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