Fourth Gandhi Peace Walk in October

Durban - The annual Gandhi Peace Walk, set to attract thousands to the province’s capital, will take place on Sunday, October 2. The walk is currently in its fourth year and has been hailed as one of Pietermaritzburg’s most prestigious and historic events.

Last year, over 1 000 people took to the streets promoting Gandhi’s message of peace, unity and non-violence, and this year, the committee hopes for an increase in participants to make this one of the main events in the City of Choice.

Mahatma Gandhi, the famous freedom fighter from India, has significant ties to Pietermaritzburg.

He was travelling on a train to Pretoria when he was asked to change from a first-class compartment to a third-class one – because he was not white. Gandhi, who was a lawyer and had purchased a first-class ticket, refused, and was thrown off the train at Pietermaritzburg station.

Gandhi then made the historic decision to stay in South Africa to fight against discrimination, instead of returning to his home country.

This year, the event boasts the former minister of energy, Ben Martins, as the keynote speaker, and will coincide with the city’s 175th anniversary.