24/07/2019
photo thanks to
As a reminder, I trust that we are all ready for the upcoming Take Back Our Mountains hike this Sunday, 28 July 2019 at 8.30 am: Ou Kaapse Weg. Once again, this is a collaborative hike with the SANParks.
I am proud to say that our movement is really sustained with the active support and participation from, among other, our broad range of community hiking lovers, tourists; both local and international. We will therefore continue with our mission to highlight safety awareness and hiking in large numbers, keeping our hikes open to all sharing this vision. We are grateful for the SANParks participation, which broadens the mission to, at times include a clean-up the environment.
Our cause is further promoted by excellent media coverage, though I have raised my concern about a recent article published in the Cape Argus of 22 July 2019.
This article refers to the movement as a âClubâ, which we are not and also refers to our hike as a âprotestâ. I disagree with describing or equating our hikes with âprotestsâ as âprotestsâ bears a negative connotation and we want to emphasize the positivity of our movement.
I would like to correct this and re-emphasise the point that our original aim remains to reclaim our mountains in the face of ongoing attacks on citizens using the mountain. Through our hikes we intend to make the mountain safe by encouraging walking in groups because it is safer to do so.
Doing this on a regular basis provides ample opportunity for people of diverse backgrounds and culture to connect and appreciate our diverse heritage through networking while walking on the mountain.
We encourage the community to join us and continue reclaiming the mountain without any protests. Interested journalists/reporters should participate in the way all our members are, to come to much more positive inspiration and insights.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday
Taahir Osman.