Running against women and child abuse

A Limpopo man has finished running 500 kilometres from Ellispark in Johannesburg to Nkowankowa Stadium in Limpopo, to support the 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children.

The chairperson of Vantswa Va Xivono (VVX), which means "youth with a vision", Mr Samuel Ntsanwisi (24) from Nkowankowa near Tzaneen in Limpopo, decided to collect funds to sustain a youth project. He started to run from Johannesburg on Monday and ended in Limpopo last Friday, where he was welcomed in Polokwane. He only slept over at three places in order to reach Limpopo before the end of the week.

Ntsanwisi is a student at the University of the Witwatersrand and is in the process of completing his master’s degree in film and television. He said that he decided to raise funds for his project to fight against women and children abuse. Although his VVX project has a site, they still need money to build the multi-purpose centre for the youth. The centre will host a rehabilitation section, a computer lab, sport facilities, educational facilities and a place for disadvantaged young people. The estimated cost of erecting such a centre is R1 million.

“It was not easy to run from Johannesburg to Limpopo. I was about to stop and give up when I had run 100 kilometres, because I was very tired, but decided to continue. I believe in God and everything is possible when your life is dedicated to him. I am happy because my dream came true,” Ntsanwisi said.

Limpopo´s First Lady, Mrs Mokgadi Mathale, was very excited when Samuel Ntsanwisi arrived at his destination. She said that the province´s women would support VVX with their project and vision. She also said that women and children must speak out about against any abuse in the family. “Together we can root out and minimize abuse. Let´s respect the 16 days of activism against women and child abuse,” Mathale said.

The media facilitator, Pastor Strike Manganyi, said that the SABC combo in Limpopo would assist the VVX project by raising funds through their SMS line. He also pledged R100 000 as part of a trade exchange for building materials for the centre. The stations will appeal to the business sector to support the project.

News - Date: 03 December 2010

Tshifhiwa Booi

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