Gruelling 50km walk from Little Falls in support of rape victims
"It was very painful, just as the journey to healing is very painful for a rape survivor. I am honoured to have carried some of that pain yesterday.”
In the early hours of Saturday morning, 7 March, rape survivor and motivational speaker Leilani Kuter embarked on a tough 50km remembrance walk from Little Falls to the Cradle of Humankind in support of the Namuhla Project.
The project is a national emergency mobilisation initiative aimed at helping women to pour out their hearts about abuse, living in fear and the violence against women that has become part of everyday life in South Africa.
The walk formed part of the initiative to honour rape survivors who have suffered through rape crimes 50 years ago, and give rape survivors a voice to speak out.
“We did it, we have finished a 50km walk today, and the challenge was dedicated to women and men who were raped 50 years ago.
“It was tough but we’ve finished strong. I am so proud of everyone who participated and demonstrated that one should not be a victim but a survivor,” said a tired but proud Leilani.
Ward 89 councillor, Amelia Bester also showed her support to the initiative by gearing up early on Saturday morning to participate in the rape survivor dedication walk.
“Thank you Leilani Kuter for including me in the walk. I undertook to do 25km as I had to chair a meeting at 10am, and I walked with the team from 4am to 9am.
“The first 15km was a breeze, then whatever tissue resides in the knees and hips gave me uphill. I walked like a tortoise for the last 10km.
“It was very painful, just as the journey to healing is very painful for a rape survivor. I am honoured to have carried some of that pain yesterday,” said Amelia.
The Northsider met up with Leilani as she and a friend were a few kilometres from finishing the walk that took almost the whole day and was filled with a lot of pain, but also determination to complete a challenge that is meant to soothe the pain most women in the country suffer.
“As women we should stop accepting sexual abuse as a way of life and condoning the presence of predators in our family life.
“Child molesters and rapists must be exposed and permanently removed from society,” said a courageous Amelia.
