Walk for change in hope Ramaphosa will listen

NO MORE speeches. No more rhetoric. We are tired.

These are words of a group of young activists walking barefoot from KwaZulu-Natal to Pretoria over the festive season. The group, which is already swelling in numbers, is expected to arrive in the capital city on New Year’s Day and has vowed to wait for as long as they can for President Cyril Ramphosa to accept their list of grievances.

“Even if he is overseas. Even if he is on holiday. We will wait at the Union Buildings until he personally meets us, as the head of state. We don’t want any of his ministers. We want him,” said Philani Nduli, spokesperson for the group.

The group of 40, which originally began with 32 people, is led by student activist Bonginkosi Khanyile and will be leaving Heidelberg today and heading for Johannesburg.

Nduli explained that initially two people had turned back shortly after they left KwaZulu-Natal due to ill health but said others have continued to join them along the way.

Despite the harsh weather conditions, Nduli said they remain resolute in their mission and have been immensely supported by the community who have offered them accommodation and monetary donations.

“What has surprised us is that even the poorest of people are coming to our aid. One woman even cooked porridge for us because she didn’t have money to offer.

“This trip has showed us time and time again that despite their differences, South Africans have huge hearts and are good people. They just need a leader who can unify them. Imagine what we can do if we are all united.”

The activists have warned, however, that their walk dubbed “The Historic Walk Campaign” is not only limited to education issues but the ills that affect young people across the country, such as unemployment.

“In our midst we have two high school students waiting for their matric results, we have unemployed youth, we have graduates, we have young people who can’t access decent housing. It goes to show that the need is far greater than only concentrating on tertiary education,” Nduli added.

In August, #FeesMustFall student activist Mcebo Dlamini embarked on a walk from Johannesburg to the Union Buildings where he sought to hand over a list of demands to Ramphosa and that he release students detained during the protests that rocked the country since October 2015.

One of the students who was arrested in the protests is Khaya Cekeshe, who was sentenced to eight years in Leeuwkop prison with three years suspended, after he attempted to set a police car on fire.

Nduli said the group would be visiting him in prison.

Asked why they had decided to embark on a walk, he said: “We thought it best to take a different approach. Previously, we have been accused of being unruly young people who use protests to wreak havoc. Perhaps this time around, President Ramaphosa will listen. Perhaps this time around, change will happen. Perhaps our efforts will not go in vain. Perhaps the young black child will be given a chance for a change.”