Charity walk ends in brave young man’s death
MARUWAAN Scullard’s family are in Joburg arranging for his body to be transported to Cape Town.
Scullard, 21, and his friends Jonathan Jansen, 38, and Jaryd Jooste, 26, were walking from Joburg to Cape Town to raise funds for Love Out Loud, a mentoring programme for schools in Manenberg.
Scullard, a recovering heroin addict, was hailed as a brave young man who defeated drug addiction and tried to help others be like him, a young man sure of his identity and with a purpose on earth.
Manenberg is a high-crime area, with many people living in poverty.
A large part of the suburb is controlled by rival gangs, and drug addiction is common. Many young people have fallen victim to both.
The trio arrived in Joburg on Thursday, and on Friday they were all knocked down by a car in Vanderbijlpark.
Scullard died on the scene while Jansen and Jooste were seriously injured.
Their mentor Clare Pretorius said Jansen and Jooste suffered critical injuries but “they are in a fairly stable condition”.
Vanderbijlpark police station spokeswoman Gertrude Makhale said a case of culpable homicide was being investigated. No arrests had been made. Pretorius said Scullard joined the organisation 18 months ago as a heroin addict and flourished and responded well to the challenges and opportunities offered.
Pretorius said people have donated money to the families to travel to Joburg, to transport Scullard’s body home, and towards Jansen and Jooste’s medical bills. They have raised R50 000 so far.
“People have been very kind,” said Pretorius, referring to the donations.
Manenberg Safety Forum spokeswoman Roegshanda Pascoe said what happened to the trio was the saddest thing, but positive in a way because they have shown the youth of Manenberg they care.
“They gave a clear message of love and peace. His legacy will live forever and I am proud of Maruwaan,” she said.
Anyone who would like to make a donation towards the pair’s medical costs can make a deposit into the FNB account 62525818227, branch code: 250655.