IT took only 10 days for two friends to complete the 513km walk.
The duo Maqhawe Ziqubu (38) and Njabulo Msweli (37) from KwesakwaMthethwa just outside Empangeni, northern KZN, embarked on a fundraising walk to collect 1000 pairs of shoes, 1000 toiletries packs, 1000 sanitary towels and 200 wheelchairs.
They want to donate these to five local schools with pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
They started their 10-day walk from Richards Bay and joined N2 to Pongola, and then they returned on the Nongoma route, which had to pass by Ulundi, Melmoth before Empangeni.
Maqhawe said: “The walk was not easy since it was our first, but because we walked for a purpose and out of love, we couldn’t give up.”
He said they decided to embark on the fundraising walk because they were not happy with the situation at most of the local schools that they visit.
“We have a garden we grow and intend to donate the vegetables to the local schools. When we visit these schools, we find most learners in unpleasant conditions. We could not turn a blind eye,” said Maqhawe.
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Njabulo said they come from deep rural areas where most families depend on social grants to put food on the table.
“The only chance for those families to turn around that situation is to put their hopes on the young ones who are going to school to complete their studies so that they can find better jobs to break the chain of poverty,” said Njabulo.
He said for that reason, they had to find a way to eliminate all the challenges that might end up influencing these children to drop out of school.
“All the donations that we will make, we will donate in January so that they will have a smooth start and not have female learners missing school just because of their periods and others have to drop out of school because they don’t have shoes,” said Njabulo.
The pair is appealing to anyone who might be able to donate something to come through and even the takkies to wear as they continue with the walk.
The pair is on a break now but will embark on another walk soon from Richards Bay to Pietermaritzburg.
