Mayor Tau walks the talk to highlight dangers of drug abuse

22 July 2016

 

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau will on Sunday June 24 lead from the front to highlight the adverse effects of alcohol and substance abuse when he takes part in the 16th edition of the 702 Walk the Talk, one of the most important events on the city’s social calendar.

 

The event, which the City has supported for many years as it promotes healthy living and fosters social cohesion, starts and finishes at the Marks Park Sports Club in Emmarentia.

More than 57 000 people have registered to talk part in this year’s edition, 2 000 more than last year.

Executive Mayor Tau’s son, Karabo, recently publicly disclosed his battle against substance abuse and revealed how the overwhelming support he had received from his family had helped him overcome the addiction. Clean now for 18 months, Karabo Tau has become an anti-drugs activist.

The event also speaks to the City’s Go Jozi Healthy Lifestyle Programme, which promotes walking, cycling, running and other physical activity to keep fit and healthy and increase Johannesburg’s life expectancy.

“Regular exercise is one of the pillars of preventing lifestyle diseases and we encourage people to do this to ease the burden on our healthcare system,” says Mayor Tau.

The safety of participants is paramount to the City. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department will be on hand to assist walkers, control traffic and mount roadblocks along the route.

Mayor Tau has sanctioned the closure of several arterial roads around Marks Park, including Judith Road from the intersection of Beyers Naude Drive to Barry Hertzog Avenue and Victory Road from Barry Hertzog Avenue to Empire Road from 4am until 2pm on Sunday.