On Sunday, 6 October, on the eve of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu's 93rd birthday, hundreds of students, parents, teachers, church leaders, and head of school embarked on the annual Tutu Memorial Walk.
This annual event was the culmination of the Habits of the Heart IV, which began on 3 October with the Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Memorial Mass in honour of the Arch and was followed by the student-led Habits of the Heart IV Student Forum. Meandering through the streets of Houghton, Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville, the Tutu Memorial Walk served not only as a tribute to Tutu’s remarkable contributions to social justice and reconciliation in South Africa but also as an opportunity for reflection on the importance of community engagement in fostering awareness and reflection on our shared humanity.
The day started with entertainment from local community dance group TNG before the Revd Zanele Mtshali of St Aidan’s Anglican Church in Yeoville blessed the day’s activities. Walkers then set off, crossing the iconic Desmond and Leah Tutu Bridge—opened by Archbishop Tutu in 2006—a powerful symbol of unity and transformation connecting St John’s College and Roedean School. At Roedean, they were warmly welcomed by the school’s Executive Director, Mrs Lindi Dlamini. The route then led participants to two schools in the St John’s College Academy network: Asteri Primary School and Barnato Park High School, both of which have students who are full scholarship recipients at St John's College. At Barnato Park, the group was greeted by the school choir, who captivated the audience with a powerful five-minute musical performance.
Ushered by several Johannesburg Metro Police vehicles and marshals, some on their bicycles, walkers proceeded into one of the city’s most iconic and misunderstood landmarks, the Ponte City Apartment building. The fascination with the towering structure and its history, coupled with the dazzling dance moves displayed by student performers, captured the imaginations of all in attendance. Through the partnership with Dlala Nje, a youth development organisation based in the building, St John's College enjoys a long-standing relationship with the Ponte community, whose students continue to receive tutoring in Mathematics and sciences every Saturday morning from our College and former Academy students.
The Ponte building spectacle was followed by a 2km stretch that ended at St Aidan’s Anglican Church, where the crowd was reunited with Reverend Mtshali and her lively congregation, who welcomed walkers with spirited songs of worship. The procession then crossed over Louis Botha Avenue into Houghton, past King Edwards VII School, toward the final station in Tutu Quad back at St John’s College, where the sound of the Royal Vibrationz Marimba band, a group of current and former high school students from the Ponte community serenaded them.
Throughout the four-hour 6km walk, participants listened to excerpts from Tutu’s speeches and writings alongside scriptural reflections. These moments of pause allowed everyone to contemplate how they could embody Tutu’s values in their lives and communities. Prominent themes were:
Ubuntu and Shared Humanity: Tutu’s belief that our fates are interconnected urges us to act in ways that uplift one another.
Community Engagement: Active participation in our communities to promote social justice and address inequalities.
Justice and Reconciliation: The journey towards healing, which requires honesty and a commitment to acknowledging past wrongs.
Participants also reflected on several of Archbishop Tutu’s experiences and teachings around some critical questions of our time, including Gender and Sexuality, Education and Systemic Racism, leaving many feeling inspired to reinvigorate our community’s commitment to Tutu’s vision of a society rooted in justice, equality, and respect for all individuals.
The event organiser, Mr Mickey Mashego, Head of Community Engagement, ended the day by addressing the importance of preserving the legacy of ethical leaders such as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu to students. He further stressed the importance of deepening their consciousness and seeking innovative solutions to our country’s stark socio-economic disparities. Executive Headmaster Mr Stuart West and our Acting Chair of Council, Ms Tina Playne, shared a word of thanks before bringing this year’s Tutu Memorial Walk to a close.
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