A Ballito man with an indomitable spirit has his sights set on walking 6000 kilometers around South Africa.
Johan Nel is a well known local figure for his many years serving as a traffic cop.
In 1993 he fell, injuring his knee badly. After 15 operations, his leg was fused and unable to bend it for the next 11 years. As a result he was boarded from his job in 1996.
“I was bitter at first, but it became a fact of life,” said Nel,
Eventually, with developments in medical technology, a specialist was able to put titanium rods in Nel’s leg along with a hinge that allowed him bending mobility of about 30 percent.
“In 2012 I had the idea of doing a walking tour of South Africa. The idea was to do this hike solo and on a very limited budget.”
After learning how to walk again, after the reconstruction of his leg, Nel set off on his journey on January 20 this year.
“I spent my first night in Etete township. The next morning I was off to Blythedale and so I carried on from town to town for 21 days until my leg gave up.”
After 863 kilometres, having made new friends and found free accommodation in backpackers, B and B’s, caravan parks and even a Wimpy and the floor of a toilet, Nel could no longer go on.
He had made it all the way to Phalaborwa in Mpumalanga, with a tent on his back, when he suffered a bone marrow leak and had to come back to Ballito.
Undefeated, Nel started walking again in August and now takes part in short distance marathons, determined to build his strength and complete his epic adventure.
“More than once I was given free accommodation, food and water in rural areas. I was treated with respect and did not once have trouble from anybody,” said Nel.
“We live in a beautiful country and if you respect people, have the right attitude and are aware of your surroundings it is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.”
