This Men’s Month, while South Africa continues to grapple with the scourge of gender-based violence, a Durban father and son have chosen to turn their bond into a powerful campaign for change.
Instead of simply speaking out against the abuse of women and children, Darin Samuels, 58, and his son, Devon, 32, will drive more than 10 000 kilometres across Southern and East Africa to raise awareness of one of the country’s most pressing social crises.
Flying the flag for Durban, the father-and-son duo will take part in the 2026 Africa Rally under the banner Shades of Purple, dedicating their expedition to the TEARS Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports survivors of gender-based violence and advocates for safer communities.
For the Samuels family, the rally is about much more than adventure. It is a deeply personal journey of healing, remembrance and hope – one aimed at encouraging more men to become active allies in the fight against violence against women and children. “If men don’t stand up, nothing will change.This journey is about healing, honouring the women who shaped our lives and standing up for every woman and child living in fear. Fatherhood matters. Men must lead by example, not only through words but through action,” ” said Darin.
The idea for the expedition came from Devon, who discovered the Africa Rally while researching online. Although the plan was initially shelved, father and son later agreed to take on the challenge, but only if they could use it to make a meaningful difference.
Their charity of choice was the TEARS Foundation. “We wanted our journey to stand for something bigger than ourselves,” Darin added.
The team’s name, Shades of Purple, pays tribute to the women who have influenced generations of the Samuels family, including Darin’s 82-year-old mother, Yvonne, his late wife Rachelle, his partner Maria, his daughter Melissa and his two-year-old grandson, Benjamin, whose future they hope will be free from the fear and violence that continues to plague South African families.
Adding even greater significance to the journey is the vehicle that will carry them across the continent -their Volkswagen Caddy which was almost destroyed during the July 2021 unrest when the Samuels family’s business suffered an estimated R40 million in damages after looters torched and vandalised its premises. The vehicle was declared a write-off. Rather than abandoning it, the family painstakingly rebuilt it.
“The Caddy was looted, smashed and almost destroyed.Today it represents resilience. It reminds us that even after devastation, it is possible to rebuild” said Devon.
During the expedition, the pair will travel through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania, visiting some of Africa’s most iconic destinations, including Victoria Falls, the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro Base Camp and Zanzibar.Along the route, they will honour women who have left a lasting impact on their lives by lighting four commemorative candles, while carrying a symbolic Calabash of Tears to collect messages of hope and solidarity for survivors of gender-based violence.
The calabash will eventually be emptied into the Indian Ocean at Bagamoyo, Tanzania – once a major slave port – symbolising the release of pain and a collective call for healing across the continent.
For Darin, however, the most important destination is not the finish line.It is changing the conversation around what it means to be a man. “As men, we cannot remain silent while women and children continue to suffer. If this journey inspires fathers to teach their sons respect, compassion and accountability, then every kilometre we travel will have been worthwhile. ” he said.
As the rally gets underway, the Samuels family hopes their 10 000-kilometre journey will become far more than an African adventure – they hope it will inspire a movement of men prepared to stand beside women in the fight to end gender-based violence.
