Driven by purpose and the memory of his late brother, Zolani Zondani embarked on a walk from Gqeberha to Cape Town to boldly redefine what it means to be a man in South Africa.
Cape Town, South Africa (22 October 2025) – He packed a backpack, laced up his trainers and headed for the road – not for a casual outing, but to embark on a journey of purpose and awareness from Gqeberha to Cape Town.
Zolani Zondani has been gaining the attention and praise of South Africans across social media platforms, sharing his bold display of a 750km trek on foot to raise awareness on the importance of men’s mental health.
At the beginning of October, he shared with his followers that he’d be taking on the endurance challenge as his way of garnering support and raising funds for his project, Broski “The Living Experience”, which seeks to create safe spaces for men to express vulnerability and share their struggles.
Through live videos and posts, he’s shared updates on the road, and he has met many kind South Africans who have offered him their love and support. They have encouraged him with kind words, provided a place for him to stay for the night, and contributed funds to help him continue his journey.
More than just an act of garnering public support, Zolani’s walk was also a tribute to his late younger brother, who turned to substance abuse to numb the pain and distress of his personal struggles.
“Drugs took away everything he was supposed to live for. I couldn’t help him then, so now I’m helping others not to become another statistic,” he shared with Cape Town Times.
He received a hero’s welcome yesterday upon his anticipated arrival in Cape Town. Receiving a handshake from Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, Zolani said the moment and warmth received from the Mother City was a great honour.
Hill-Lewis also shared a message upon his arrival, saying:
“I warmly welcome Zolani to Cape Town, and congratulate him on his massive 750km walk to raise awareness about young men’s mental health – a very worthwhile thing to focus on. I’m glad I could be there to welcome him at the end of his journey. His walk achieved his goal, with hundreds of thousands of South Africans tuning in to his daily updates on social media. Well done to him, and I hope he enjoys his time in Cape Town.”
We join the thousands in celebrating this brave man’s bold statement to support and uplift others – because no man should ever have to feel like they have to walk the dark road alone.
Sources: Various (Lined Above)
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