Man on 1 500km anti-gangsterism march killed
A 21-year-old man on a mission to walk from Joburg to Manenburg to raise awareness about gangsterism has been knocked down.
|||Cape Town -
Maruwaan Scullard, 21, was on a mission, walking from Joburg to Manenberg to raise awareness about gangsterism in Cape Town.
But he was killed on Friday, barely 24 hours into his 1 500km journey, when a “speeding car” mowed him and two others down.
In a video posted on the team’s Facebook page hours before the accident, Maruwaan said: “I’m feeling excited, I’m doing this, we can do this, we actually walked 38 kilometres yesterday [September, 1] and I’m feeling good.”
Organisers say Maruwaan, his teammate Jaryd Jooste, 26, and their team leader, Jonathan Jooste, were resting inside a parked vehicle on the side of the road when the car rammed into them. The team had covered 60km at that point.
Jaryd, who suffered serious head injuries and Jonathan, who sustained injuries to his abdomen, were rushed to hospital where they are still in a critical but stable condition. The driver of the car was also injured.
The men were members of the Love Out Loud team, an initiative of the national NGO Fusion Community Trust and Tree of Life, were walking to raise funds for a new programme looking to fight drugs and gangs in Manenberg.
The trio were planning to walk 1 500km over 60 days, and had set off on Thursday.
Organisers say the young men’s families have since flown up to Joburg.
Clare Pretorius from Fusion Community Trust said: “As a community we are completely devastated. It came as a shock for us. Maruwaan’s mom is here and is heartbroken about the whole ordeal.
“Maruwaan had been staying with us in Johannesburg for 18 months and he was a courageous young man who had beaten drugs and wanted to change his community.”
Now funds are being raised to help pay for the medical bills of the injured men as well as the cost of returning Maruwaan’s body to a funeral at home.
To date over R44 000 has been raised.
Manenberg community leader, Roegchanda Pascoe, says Maruwaan died a hero to many young people in their community.
“He is leaving a legacy behind that you don’t let your circumstances define your future,” she says.
Police spokesman Sergeant Gertrude Makhale confirms that Vanderbijlpark SAPS are investigating a culpable homicide case.
No arrest has been made yet.
Daily Voice