The annual global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, also known as Mandela Day, is only two days away. To commemorate the 67 minute movement, the Inner City CAN collective and famed Gender Activist,Luke Lamprecht will be running through the Inner City of Johannesburg visiting key Mandela landmarks and spreading the message against Gender Based Violence.
Accompanying him are a group of young activists, members of the Fight with Insight programme, led by Lamprecht, which uses boxing inclusively for upliftment, consciousness and coping skills for traumatised and stressed at-risk inner-city youth.
“Luke has been a part of the Inner City for many years. He has a deep love for it’s people and is completely committed to helping the children of the Inner City see opportunities for growth and self-improvement.”says Jean Veitech from Inner City Can Collective
Already 67 runners from the group have been filmed running the route. This footage, and the actual run on the day will be available via a broadcast platform on 18 July from 9h00. Along with some enlightening discussions with Gender Based Violence (GBV) activists, and insights on the key Mandela “moments/monuments” in the city.
According to Veitech, Inner City has partnered with a number of partners but has decided to focus Afrika Awake because they are doing important work in the Inner City by finding safety for abused women and helping them to get back up again after serious trauma.
“They do so much with so little funding and have been so good to us that it made sense to give them some exposure. Fight with Insight works with WMACA (Women and Men Against Child Abuse) and Luke has been instrumental in forging paths into a better understanding of GBV; why it happens and how we can be a part of the change. He works together with Miranda Jordan-Friedman who is a prominent activist in the GBV field and has a deep understanding about the legislation surrounding GBV; she has been an advocate for the changes that have been happening in the legal framework.” she continues.
Beneficiaries of this project are inner city residents and organisations who have been served, or partnered with, the Inner City CAN Collective during lockdown. These include: Fight with Insight, Women and Men Against Child Abuse, Africa Awake – which focuses on xenophobia, the Angel Network – key founders of all the Gauteng Community Action Networks that were established at the start of lockdown, and inner city foundation, Ingelosi Foundation.
The route of the CITY OF COURAGE VIRTUAL TOUR Mandela Day Run:
●Commences at the iconic Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein, the runners
●Proceed downtown to Mandela and Tambo’s original law firm, now reconstructed,
by Johannesburg Development Agency, in Chancellor House:
●Past Marco Cianfanelli’s sculpture of Mandela the boxer – drawn from Bob
Gosani’s original photograph of Mandela found in Chancellor House – opposite
the Magistrate’s Court;
●on to Gandhi Square;
●the High Court,
●through the Fashion District to
●Maboneng and past the 10-storey mural of Mandela the boxer, from that same
photograph, by Cape Town-based street artist Ricky Lee Gordon (aka Freddy
Sam) which commenced four days after Mandela’s death
●up Joe Slovo Drive into Hillbrow
●Past the Twilight Children Project
●To the iconic Constitutional Court which harboured Mama Winnie Mandela in the
Women’s Jail,
●Past Hillbrow Police Station
●Concluding at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
“The CAN (Community Action Network) itself is a very young concept. CANs started in response to the humanitarian crisis created by Covid-19. They key to our model is collaboration and working with people that understand what is happening at the coal face on a daily basis. When we started the Inner City CAN, it was with the view that we were in it for the long haul and not only during Covid-19, so whilst we work on daily basis to help with basic needs we knew that we should broaden our focus and look to bigger issues. We are privileged to be able to work with so many established NPO / NGO and lend our voice to their causes” Veitech concludes.
The Inner City CAN collective and their partners support President Ramaphosa’s 5-point plan to tackle GBV and have invited key speakers to impart their knowledge and provide insights into the challenges of dealing with GBV during the course of the broadcast.
These 5 points are: The prevention of ongoing GBV; strengthening the Criminal Justice System; enhancing the legal and policy framework; ensuring adequate care, support and healing for victims of violence; and improving the economic power of women.
Tickets to watch the race virtually are on sale through Quicket( https://qkt.io/Or4Nct) and cost R 100. Buyers can also sponsor a runner on Mandela Day which will help to cover our costs.
There will be opportunities to make live donations during the broadcast as well as on, or before, the tour on Quicket.
Supporters are also encouraged to do their own runs or walks on Mandela Day, wearing orange as a show of solidarity.
All proceeds, after expenses, will be earmarked to organisations that combat and support victims of GBV in the Inner City.
