GEORGE NEWS - The Peace Walker from Durban, Siyandla Dlamini (30), passed through George on Monday and Tuesday on the second round of his journey through South Africa.
He arrived in George from Mossel Bay on Monday 5 December and is on his way to Plettenberg Bay where he intends to end his walk on 12 December.
Dlamini started his journey from Durban in January and has covered over 5 000km through South Africa, carrying a message of peace while building bridges and winning hearts with his humble approach.
He also passed through George in April.
"Everywhere I've been, I realise all the people are hungry for peace, even though we are deeply divided. People are hungry for leaders who would bring peace and not division. We are not fulfilling our purpose that God gave us - to develop the country and move forward, not backwards," he says.
He is concerned about food security. "Nobody grows their own food anymore while we are losing our farmers, who grow our food, because they are being killed. We cut trees instead of planting trees. It's a mess. I believe every house should have at least a fruit tree, but in some places where government builds houses, there are no trees at all."
He does not walk every day, but stays over at some places to get involved with community work in order to engage with the locals to spread his message. He visits schools and on Sundays he would speak in a church in the town where he is.
Dlamini says although not everyone is understanding of what he wishes to accomplish and some feel that he should rather get a job, he has mostly been received well and people have been very supportive.
Doesn't he get tired? "No, at night I get my sleep and the journey and its challenges are interesting. I love what I do," he says.
Dlamini has a bigger mission next year - to walk in the USA to carry his peace message even further.
He thanked the Garden Route District Municipality for putting him up in the local municipal camping site.
Contact Dlamini on 073 581 5798 if you wish to engage with him.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
