Amputee King Nipho, who has already covered over 2000 kilometers across South Africa on one leg, is gaining sympathy nationwide by advocating for inclusivity, unity, and the concept of Ubuntu. He reached a significant milestone in his ambitious #OneLegWalk campaign, completing 5000 km upon arriving in Gqeberha on Friday.
This journey began in Pretoria on May 27th and has already passed through Cape Town, now heading towards its final destination in Durban. Nipho explains that the goal of this trek is to stimulate greater support for people with disabilities while simultaneously promoting social cohesion within communities.
He stated that his main objective is to do something for the inclusion of people with disabilities, as there was disorder observed in communities. Nipho noted that one cannot simply stand by and watch, and decided to 'do something positive to unite the community instead of promoting hatred.'
Despite the physical strain, Nipho did not slow down while passing through Mount Pleasant streets, chanting 'We are making history' and 'One Leg Walk,' while also playing the vuvuzela. The campaign is entirely self-funded and required significant sacrifices; he shared that he spent many nights in hotel parking lots, although public support grew thanks to the dissemination of information about his mission on social media.
Nipho managed to find partners among mini-hotels that offered him accommodation, saying, 'Come, we will host you. You are doing good work.'
Welcome to Nelson Mandela Bay
The arrival of Amputee King Nipho in Nelson Mandela Bay was met with a warm reception from the Association of Physically Disabled Persons (APD), whose members came out to support the inspiring walker. The Chairman of APD, Garth van Niekerk, reported that the organization learned about Nipho's journey shortly before his arrival.
Van Niekerk recounted that someone contacted APD asking if they knew about the King's walk along this route, and initially, they were unaware. Nevertheless, APD quickly mobilized to assist him, and Van Niekerk hosted Nipho at his home.
Furthermore, the organization reached out to a long-standing corporate partner, SPAR Eastern Cape, to aid the traveler. The Sponsorship Controller for SPAR Eastern Cape, Hani Koba, noted that Nipho's visit coincided with preparations for the annual 'Wheelchair Wednesday' and 'Women's Challenge' campaigns scheduled for September.
To support the remainder of his journey, SPAR provided Nipho with supplies from its Mount Pleasant store, as well as a virtual gift voucher usable in SPAR stores along his route. Continuing his trek towards Durban, Nipho's determination serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, inclusivity, and the ability of ordinary South Africans to unite for a common cause.