The group of 15 students from the University of the Witwatersrand started their Feet4Fees campaign on December 1‚ and they are hoping to reach their destination‚ Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth‚ on December 20.
- A long walk for tertiary educationNelson Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom has inspired a 1 000km walk from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth to help fund tertiary education.
The group’s leader‚ Reuben Oosthysen‚ said the idea of walking was inspired by the late former statesman Nelson Mandela’s “long walk to freedom”.
“The aim is to raise awareness on the state of our education system and how we can address the problems that we face. It is also to raise funds‚” Oosthysen said‚ adding that they have‚ so far‚ raised R7-million.
He said a trust will manage the funds and “they will use their own criteria to allocate funds to eligible students”.
When TMG Digital spoke to Oosthysen‚ the walkers were 19km south of Cradock.
“We stopped in Bloemfontein and slept there. We will also sleep in Cradock‚” he said.
They have been eating at fast food outlets and restaurants along the way - “We have three meals a day‚” Oosthysen said.
The meals‚ first aid and transport have been sponsored by various companies‚ he said.
“One of the students is studying medicine‚” he said‚ before adding that none have suffered any injuries‚ except for blisters and a “cut here and there”.
“The first thing we will do when we get to PE is to celebrate‚ go to the beach and sleep‚” Oosthysen said.
Their journey can be tracked at http://www.feet4fees.co.za/
- TMG Digital
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