Ward 104 councillor Emi Koekemoer led the first Women who Walk for 2026, using the outing to engage residents, assess local needs, and take small but practical action in the community.

Speaking during the walk, Koekemoer said the aim was to keep it a light one, while taking stock of conditions on the ground.

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“Today we had our first walk for 2026 for Women who Walk. I’m just going to go around and see what the need is in the community and take stock a bit.”

With the recent Pikitup strikes affecting waste collection, participants also brought refuse bags to collect litter along the route. “We know that recently, with the Pikitup strikes, our streets don’t look too good. They’re strewn with litter at the moment, so we took a few Pikitup bags with us and picked up some litter as we went along, as well as logging some faults.”

Beyond the clean-up, the walk served as a space for conversation between residents and their councillor, allowing concerns to be raised informally while moving through the neighbourhood.

Also read: Women Who Walk participant urges stronger community involvement

Koekemoer said such initiatives play an important role in rebuilding the city. “It helps in the sense of creating awareness, first and foremost. It’s going to take an all-of-society approach to get Johannesburg working again. It can’t be just the city, and it can’t be just the residents’ associations.”

She added that the walks help bridge that gap. “Having your councillor with you on a walk, getting some fresh air, getting to know each other, and talking about the issues in the community, I think that’s important.”

The Women who Walk initiative is expected to continue throughout the year, offering residents a simple way to stay active, connect with local leadership, and contribute to keeping their neighbourhood clean.

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