Big man on the road for peace

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A strongly built man, walking on the highways and byways of Mossel Bay, drew much attention during the Easter Weekend.

And this is exactly what his quest was - for as many people possible to take note of his honourable walk for peace.

Siyanda Dlamini has been walking for peace since January. He started in Durban and walked to Johannesburg. Then his quest led him to Cape Town. Mossel Bay was on his route back to Durban.

Several locals shared pictures on social media that they had taken of Siyanda as they passed him.

"I am here on a road in Mossel Bay, close to a mall. It is a good place for me to be seen. People are talking about me in their cars. I can see it from here. They are hooting. I can see they are digesting my message. I need 20 000 people to see me," Siyanda said in a video on his Facebook page, where he runs his awareness campaign.

Local businessman Gerhard le Roux posed for a photograph with Siya and shared his message of goodwill to him.

"Siyanda Dlamini, may your journey be safe. I hope that people look after you. I take my hat off to you and salute you," Le Roux wrote.

He told the Mossel Bay Advertiser that Siyanda's quest was a plea for stability and peace in South Africa and across the globe.

"We spoke for quite a while when he passed our shop. He is a humble and peaceful man. It is quite easy to see that he loves what he is doing and he does it with passion. He is not raising funds or collecting money, nor interested in doing so. Wherever he goes, people offer him shelter and food."

Le Roux called Siyanda an inspiration.

"A hike like this through a country as dangerous as ours must take a lot of guts. I hope people continue to support him."

A photograph of Siyanda Dlamini on Marsh Street, by director of Community Services at the Mossel Bay Municipality, Elize Nel.