The vibrant community of Kanana is preparing to come together in a powerful demonstration of unity, social responsibility, and hope as the 2nd Annual Kanana 5KM Charity Walk and GBV Awareness Initiative takes place at Mpheqeka Stadium on 24 September 2026.
What started as a grassroots community charity initiative has rapidly grown into a massive collaborative programme. The upcoming event is set to bring together local residents, businesses, churches, sporting structures, and various other stakeholders around a shared, vital purpose: supporting vulnerable learners while taking an unequivocal stand against Gender-Based Violence.
Importantly, the initiative has received overwhelming support from churches within the Kanana community, reinforcing the crucial role that faith-based organisations can play in addressing deep-seated social challenges, strengthening families, and encouraging communities to speak out against abuse and violence.
Adding significant institutional weight to the movement, the City of Matlosana Local Municipality is also officially supporting the initiative, providing important backing to a programme that is being passionately driven from within the community itself.
Organiser Amelia Nnono Konote, who is working alongside supporter Phila Sekwele to bring the event to life, expressed immense gratitude for the collective effort.
She noted that the growing support from both public and private sectors demonstrates the incredible impact that can happen when different sectors put aside their individual interests and rally behind a common cause.
“One of the most beautiful things about this initiative is seeing different parts of our community coming together. Our churches are supporting us, the City of Matlosana Municipality is supporting us, businesses and organisations have come on board, and ordinary members of the community continue to offer whatever they can. That is what community means,” said Konote.
This unique event brings together gender-based violence (GBV) awareness, charity, health, and youth development through sport, tackling these vital community issues as one. The day kicks off with a 5KM Charity Walk, followed by an energetic aerobics session hosted by Champ and Menzi.
Afterward, the focus shifts to the pitch for the Heritage Soccer Games, which will showcase local youth talent and unite families and fans. This sports segment also serves as a crucial space to involve young men and boys in meaningful discussions about community health, respect, accountability, and ending GBV. In place of a traditional entry fee, attendees are asked to donate black school shoes, sanitary towels, and toiletries to support students in need and provide them with essential everyday dignity.
“I continue to say that this is not my event. This belongs to Kanana. Every pair of school shoes donated, every sanitary towel contributed, every kilometre walked, every soccer player who takes to the field and every organisation that supports us becomes part of something much bigger,” Konote said.
This initiative thrives on the strong backing of numerous sponsors and partners, including legal firms like Tshepo Tlotleng Attorneys, Kganare Khumalo Attorneys Incorporated, and Advocate Olebogeng Leketi, alongside Phampha Bear. They are joined by key organizational partners such as Herotel, the TP Foundation, the Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation, SAMAMBU Funerals, and Laukaze Projects. Additionally, Parking-Lot Chisanyama has come on board as an associate, while Star FM serves as the media partner to broadcast the campaign’s message to the broader community.
The organizers emphasize that every single donation is crucial, as the success of this project relies entirely on shared community effort. Ultimately, the goal for September 24th stretches far beyond collecting material goods; the organizers aim to gift the people of Kanana a lasting realization that they possess the collective power to solve their own problems when they stand together instead of staying silent.
“We want our children to see adults working together for them. We want survivors of GBV to know that their community sees them. We want young men and women to understand that violence should never be normalised. And we want Kanana to remember that we are capable of doing extraordinary things when we stand together,” Konote said.
Community members from Kanana, Orkney, Klerksdorp, and nearby areas are encouraged to take part in this upcoming event. You can get involved by joining the walk, cheering on the soccer matches, participating in the aerobics sessions, or dropping off a donation to show your solidarity with the cause.
