KOUGA – A 5,000 km awareness walk aimed at challenging the stigma surrounding people living with disabilities recently passed through the Kouga region, bringing a message of unity, peace and ubuntu to local communities.

The One Leg Walk is also a fundraising opportunity for people living with disabilities and forms part of a nationwide journey that began in Pretoria on 25 May.

5,000km journey takes disability awareness across South Africa

Mqondisi Ntshangase, who currently resides in Pretoria, is walking the route by himself using a prosthetic leg.

The first leg of his journey took him from Pretoria to Cape Town, the Kouga region and Gqeberha.

He will continue to Durban before making his way back to Pretoria.

Since the initiative is nationwide, Ntshangase said he plans to visit every province in the country.

He has at least 150 more days of walking ahead of him.

“I am currently walking 5,000 km to spread awareness and remove the stigma many people living with disabilities are faced with,” said Ntshangase.

He also hopes to assist homeless people and build or renovate sports facilities that have been vandalised so that children in every community throughout the country have access to them.

Ntshangase uses his own experience to challenge disability stigma

Ntshangase said he wants to spread unity, peace and ubuntu, particularly following the recent nationwide attacks on foreign nationals.

“I want to see communities united and living in peace,” said Ntshangase.

He also wants to offer a platform to people living with disabilities and said he is looking forward to seeing the impact his One Leg Walk initiative will have on communities throughout the country.

Ntshangase was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2012 and had his leg amputated in 2014 at the age of 25.

“While the amputation was a huge adjustment for me, especially because I lived an independent life before the amputation, I adapted and moved on with the new life God had given me,” said Ntshangase.

“I believe that everything that I have been through is all part of God’s plan for my life.”

Nearly 100 days into his walk, Ntshangase said he has received a good reaction from people along the way, with many excited to learn more about his awareness campaign.

“People feel motivated and inspired. It has been humbling to get such a good reception from people along the way,” said Ntshangase.

Kouga communities welcome walker with support and ubuntu

His visit to Kouga earlier this month was marked by what he described as a great deal of love and support.

During his time in the region, Ntshangase visited several tourist sites in Tsitsikamma and Storms River, while also receiving a warm welcome from communities across Kouga.

He said residents offered him accommodation and supported his journey.

“It was a great experience to see the communities in Kouga supporting my initiative,” said Ntshangase.

He said he has also been supported along the way by what he described as “angels of God”, who have provided him with food, money and accommodation, as he relies solely on his monthly social grant.

One Leg Walk aims to promote unity and support vulnerable communities

Ntshangase said he wants people to know that his walk is ongoing and that he would love to meet more people along the way with whom he can share his awareness initiative.

He encouraged people to approach him, saying this would give him an opportunity to spread awareness.

For more information or to follow Ntshangase’s journey, visit his Facebook page, King Nipho.

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