Gender-based violence is reported to be five times higher in South Africa than the global average. To raise awareness and fight against GBV, a group of Cape Town individuals have run, walked or cycled to King’s Blockhouse every day in October.
Also read: Ten Western Cape precincts account for 30% of GBV cases says SAPS
Blocktober is a Cape Town-based movement of people against gender-based violence. Blocktober activists come together every October to walk, run or ride to the King’s Blockhouse on the slopes of Table Mountain as an act of slow-burn solidarity.
Blocktober was initiated in 2020. It was inspired by the journey of Jean du Plessis who rode the steep ascent to the Blockhouse on his bike for 200 consecutive days in solidarity with a GBV victim. Jean was joined on this journey by a growing group of friends and acquaintances he met on the way.
The movement encourages individuals or groups to join, wherever they may be, by doing local, equivalent ascents – approximately 500m over 20km.
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What is Blocktober trying to achieve?
Solidarity: The walk, ride or run is an act of slow-burn solidarity with victims and survivors of GBV. The process of going up a steep hill is a reminder of what survivors go through every day and that recovery is a slow and painful journey. Blocktober activists are building on the tradition of undertaking a physically demanding journey to express compassion, concern and solidarity.
Education: Blocktober is a way of promoting awareness of GBV. Awareness of GBV starts by educating each other and ourselves about this issue. The members also ask participants to use Blocktober to engage family, friends and colleagues about GBV and what they can do to help end it.
Donation: Blocktober is also an initiative to raise funds. Participants are encouraged to make a donation every time they complete a Blocktober walk, run or ride. No donation is too small – simply give what you can afford.
Blocktober in Kenya
Jean is from Kenya but spent October 2020 and October 2021 in Cape Town due to Covid-19. This year he is participating in Blockoctober at home in Kenya. He and a group of cyclists have been riding a 500-metre ascent every day in the Karura Forest. This forest is located in the centre of Nairobi and is protected by the green belt movement, led by Nobel peace prize-winning Wangari Maathai.
This week Jean shared the following message to Blocktober’s participants:
“Good morning everyone!
Day 18 coming up, reaching 630km with 9000m of climbing, making this Blocktober’s annual “Everest Day”. Thanks to everyone for the amazing support and encouragement. Keep on riding, walking, running swimming with us! And, as our highest (land-based) peak floats by, please consider adding something to our collection for the Saartjie Baartman Home for Women and Children (link provided). Or, if you have done this already, perhaps encourage one or two others to do the same. Our aim is to bring the total to R50,000, so R17,000 is still to go. Every little bit helps.
Asante Sana!”
Swimming for Blocktober:
This year a new branch of Blocktober has been organised by Nancy Odendaal. Every day this month participants and residents of Camps Bay and Clifton have been swimming in the Camps Bay tidal pool for 31 minutes.
Blocktober details:
- Date: Every day in October
- Contact: [email protected] | www.blocktober.co.za
- Donate: www.saartjiebaartmancentre.org.za/donate/
Also read:
Picture: Wikipedia Commons