By REGINALD KANYANE

A second-year student doing environmental studies at the University of Technology in Poland, Jakub Dzuirkiewicz said, travelling through the African continent assists him to gain more knowledge on conservation education.

Dzuirkiewicz, who is cycling from Alexandria in Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa, arrived in Mahikeng, North West on Tuesday through the Botswana border. He passed through Taung today and said, he expected to arrive in Cape Town within nine days.

Dzuirkiewicz left Egypt on 9 October 2022.

“Africa is a large and vast continent, where different cultures co-exist. This is one of the reasons that made me embark on this initiative. The continent is also culturally diverse and it has been an amazing journey.

“I have met amazing people through-out my journey even though I had minor challenges, where I came across hostile situations, especially in North African countries. The aim of this initiative is to learn and gather as much knowledge as I could about Africa and its people,” he said.

Dzuirkiewicz further said, the sunsets and sunrises in Africa are known to be some of the most beautiful in the world including its diverse landscapes, which consist of jungles, deserts, tropical beaches and open savannahs. He added that he would spend a few weeks in Cape Town by visiting a few townships such as Gugulethu and others before flying back to Poland.

“I might also visit Robben Island, if there is time to see where former South African president, the late Dr Nelson Mandela and other apartheid struggle icons were incarcerated,” Dzuirkiewicz said.

The local social activist, Thato Molosankwe who once embarked on the same initiative of rounding Africa, but aborted his mission in Zambia due to unforeseen circumstances shared the same sentiments.

“When I received a call from the employees at Total Garage in Mahikeng telling me about Dzuirkiewicz, I was excited. I was very emotional when meeting him due to his state. You know when you are on the road, your funds are limited and you are unable to book into proper accommodation.

“So, as somebody who has first-hand experience on what he is doing, I tried to call some of the government leaders to give financial support. Unfortunately, they could not come through due to other commitments,” Molosankwe said.

However, Molosankwe said, he managed to organised accommodation for Dzuirkiewicz and ensure that he received a great send-off.

Meanwhile, the Moshawane Cycling Club in Mahikeng also came through to give the necessary support to Dzuirkiewicz. The Moshawane Cycling Club head coach, Phumzile Bekwape said: “This is inspiring to see someone from as far as Poland embarking on this initiative. Dzuirkiewicz really encourages us to work harder in ensuring that we develop a well-mannered society.

“We have established the cycling club back in 2019 during COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to ensure that we address various socio-economic challenges, especially facing our young people. We have teenage pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, a high rate of unemployment among the youths, alcohol and drug abuse which continue to ravage our country.”

Bekwape said, they have 48 young people who are part of the program.

taungdailynews@gmail.com