Blocktober and Saartjie Baartman Centre Collaboration - 2026 Activites

Move in solidarity with survivors of gender-based violence

A humble yet determined movement of slow-burn solidarity – moving since 2020

Blocktober brings people together every October to walk, run or ride to the King’s Blockhouse on Table Mountain, Cape Town, to swim, or to complete a local equivalent. The aim is simple: solidarity with survivors, awareness of gender-based violence and practical fundraising for survivor support.

The program below is for the King's Blockhouse on table Mountain in October 2026. We encourage you to join wherever you  are. Many do - such as cyclists in Kenya.

WALKS

Mon / Wed / Fri • 16:30  End of Chelmsford Road, Vredehoek to the King’s Blockhouse. Location pin  Walk coordinator: Clare Verbeek +27 72 338 1933.

•  Sunday Solidarity hikes with survivors start 8am: 4, 11, 18 & 25 Oct; and final solidarity hike Saturday 31 Oct.

Walk coordinator: Clare Verbeek +27 72 338 1933.

•  Saturday special events: 3, 10, 17 & 24 October, 08:00am from Rhodes Memorial. David Schmidt +27 82 853 2069.

RUNS

•  Tuesdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 October, 17:40: Blockheads time trial from Pin Oak Rd (close to end of Chelmsford Road) to the Blockhouse and back.
Paul Jacobs: +27 83 708 3678 
•  Slower runner option: Tuesdays 6 & 27 October, 17:00 from Chelmsford Road (pin above). Janeen de Klerk, +27 82 415 4753

RIDES

•  Thursdays 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 October, 7am from Rhodes Memorial bottom gate to the King’s Blockhouse, and Tuesdays 6, 13, 20 & 27 October, 17:40pm: from Chelmsford road, Vredehoek, to Blockhouse.

Jean du Plessis: +27 82 317 7148

SWIMS

•  No daily Cape Town swim programme this  year. If some are added you’ll find them on the Roster.

LOCAL EQUIVALENT

•  Can’t join on Table Mountain? Move wherever you are. Aim for about 300 m ascent over 7.5 km - or swim for 31 minutes / 31 laps (775 m).

Nairobi / Karura Forest: join Kenyan Blocktober leader Sam Kagiri samkizarts.ke@gmail.com

CAMINO BLOCKTOBER 

This year Blocktober walkers are doing the 320 km Camino Primitivo from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

STAY CONNECTED 

Join the 2026 Activity Roster - more people means better group safety. It will also show more activities, as they are arranged. The Roster goes live on 11 September - go to the link thereafter and record your planned participation.

Join the Blocktober WhatsApp group for updates, changes and photo sharing.

To report an incident of abuse in South Africa, call

• the Saartjie Baartman’s WhatsApp number 076 470 9314
• Rape Crisis: 021 447 9762
• Lifeline: 0800 150 150
• Childline: 0800 05 55 55 (24h) or 
• the National Shelter Movement Helpline: 0800 001 005

Read other blogs in the series