Wattville man walks to Pretoria to protest xenophobia
A 25-year-old man decided to make his voice heard against xenophobia, by starting to walk from Wattville to Pretoria, carrying a sign denouncing xenophobic attacks.
This morning, (April 17), Senzo Kunene was nearing Sunnyside, in Pretoria, after a journey which has taken over 24 hours and over 40km.
Kunene, who lives in Wattville, has never been to Pretoria.
He set out into the unknown yesterday morning, at 6am, with a sign around his body saying: “Hoot if… u are with me,, to stop,, crime, killing and xenophobia Mzansi,” the sign read.
“Let’s pray to God to save his people.”
He said he started his journey not knowing where he would sleep, but that God showed him the way.
“Faith is taking me to Pretoria,” said Senzo.
“I wanted to walk in Benoni, but many people would not have heard what I have to say.
“So, I decided to take a longer walk.
“Our father (Mandela) also walked a long walk when he was fighting for freedom.”
Senzo denounced the attacks on foreign nationals and said everyone is welcome in South Africa.
He hopes to create awareness against xenophobia by walking to Pretoria.
“It is because I wanted people to know about the violence happening in KwaZulu-Natal,” he told the City Times while on the road.
“I started walking because I wanted my voice to be heard, because every South African has a voice to be heard.
“My hope is that the whole universe will hear what I am saying,” he said.
He said many motorists hooted in response to his sign along his journey.
Kunene received help from motorist Dianne Leighton yesterday evening.
She gave him some food, money and blanket at a petrol station, in Moreleta Park, last night.
“She even offered me a coke; she was so kind,” said Kunene.
He now plans on taking a train to Kempton Park, from where he will walk back to Wattville.
Read about the April 16 xenophobic protests in Actonville.
