Five men walk 400 km from Springs to Limpopo to fight drug addiction

In a bold and inspiring initiative, five men are walking more than 400km from Springs to Limpopo to raise funds in support of the fight against drug addiction. The effort forms part of the #011walkforjustice015 campaign.

Inspired by young men who previously cycled from Limpopo to Cape Town, their journey began in Payneville on June 13 and will end at the Limpopo premier’s office, where they hope to meet with Dr Phophi Ramathuba.

Along the route, they also plan to visit several police stations in Limpopo to discuss ways to address ongoing drug-related issues.

The founder of the initiative, Japhta Matotoka (45), a former police officer, said he spent 15 years of his career fighting crime in the community, including the arrest of drug dealers.

The walk also highlights the need for greater support for police officers and community members who actively fight drug trafficking and substance abuse.

“Not only are we walking to raise funds for the rehabilitation of substance abusers, but we also aim to raise legal funds to support police officers and community members who were silenced while trying to combat this,” he explained.

Matotoka said that in 2021, while working in the Benoni K9 Unit to apprehend drug dealers, their efforts led to the arrest of officers involved in drug crimes.

“We faced resistance from within the police force, and there were attempts to silence us. Some of us faced disciplinary action and were eventually dismissed. Part of this walk is to raise funds so that those of us who were removed from the SAPS can seek justice,” he said.

Some of the walkers are from Duduza and Tsakane, communities deeply affected by drugs.

“Many people struggling with drug addiction are labelled as ‘nyaopes’ and written off. I brought this team together to walk for them and help them. We cannot give up on our brothers and sisters,” Matotoka said.

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The funds raised will also go toward creating employment opportunities for recovering addicts.

“After rehabilitation, we want to ensure they can find work, support themselves, discover their purpose, and inspire others to seek help,” he added.

Before the journey began, Morithi Nkadimeng, a participant from Tsakane, expressed his enthusiasm for the walk. He highlighted the importance of the initiative in uniting the community and raising awareness. His motivation is deeply personal, driven by a desire to support a cause he believes in.

“We are losing too many young people to substance abuse. Someone has to step up. If we don’t act now, we may not have police officers or military leaders in the future. We can’t wait until this crisis reaches our own families,” he said.

The group has secured sponsors to support their efforts.

“One gentleman has promised to donate sportswear. We’ve also secured accommodation at 21 B&Bs and three hotels along the way. We need as much community support as possible. Cheering us on from the sidewalks helps, and donations of sportswear, water, food, or money are greatly appreciated,” Matotoka said.

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