Alcoholics Anonymous SA – 75 years

ALCOHOLICS Anonymous South Africa – founded 11 years after Alcoholics Anonymous was established in the US in 1935 – commemorated 75 years of existence on October 18.

A statement said the non-profit organisation, which is run by its members on a voluntary basis, has helped thousands of South Africans recover from alcoholism.

*Joe P, a trustee on the board of AA South Africa, said: “On any day or night of the year, those seeking help from the awful grip of alcoholism will find the help of AA at the end of a phone line, in AA meetings in cities and towns across South Africa, and online via Zoom or WhatsApp.”

He said the AA’s origins in South Africa could be traced back to two people.

“In 1946 Reader’s Digest published an article titled ‘My Return from The Half-world Of Alcoholism’. The article had been extracted from an American Alcoholics Anonymous publication titled ‘The AA Grapevine’. This story resulted in two separate enquiries from South Africans who had little or no control over their alcohol consumption,” said Joe.

“The first occurred in an unrecorded month in 1946. Solomon M, a black translator at the Johannesburg Law Courts, was hungover and wandering the streets of Alexandra Township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, when he found a copy of the Reader’s Digest in an overflowing rubbish bin. He took it home because he had nothing else to read.

“That incident was about to change his life forever. His last bender had brought him and his family to the brink of starvation. Having nothing better to do, he paged through the Reader’s Digest and found this article on an organisation called Alcoholics Anonymous.

“This appeared to be the answer to his prayers. At last Solomon M had found something that had given him hope. He hurried back to his one-roomed shack and immediately wrote to the address given in the article. He soon had a reply, which included extracts from the ‘AA Big Book’. This information enabled him to acquire and maintain sobriety.

“Solomon M became the first member of AA in South Africa; he never started a group but remained sober for many years,” said Joe.

He said on October 14, 1946, a group of prominent Johannesburgers helped a man by the name of *Arthur S, an alcoholic stockbroker, to start the very first meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.

“Arthur S was the second person to write to AA, and subsequently finding help and sobriety. Because Solomon M never started an AA meeting, it is this later date that is recognised as the official beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous in South Africa,” said Joe.

How the AA works

Joe said the AA was in the recovery business. “AA exists to carry the message to the still-suffering alcoholic. AA members do this by sharing their experience, strength and hope with each other and to help prospects find and maintain sobriety. There are no fees or dues for membership; in fact, anyone can join if they have a desire to stop drinking.

“However, AA is a self-funding organisation and relies on contributions from AA members, on a voluntary basis.

“AA is not a general aid organisation; it is a fellowship of people who desire to get and remain sober. Through its 12-step recovery programme, AA members guide and mentor those willing to apply themselves to attain and maintain sobriety.

“AA does not employ professionals. It works by alcoholics talking to each other and helping them to learn what it takes to become and stay sober. AA is relevant, AA is needed, and AA members are willing to help where they can, anywhere in South Africa.”

*Not his real name. The AA keeps names of its members and volunteers confidential.