When Mdantsane gets going, the resilient go hiking

On any weekend morning, while most Mdantsane residents are still easing into the day, growing numbers of locals are lacing up their takkies, stretching their legs and choosing wellness over worry, one hike at a time. Rise & Hike Mdantsane, a community hiking club founded by Khanyisa Klaas, has quietly become one of the township’s most positive grassroots initiatives, using walking trails, fresh air and team-building games to tackle stress, isolation and mental fatigue. The idea for the club was sparked not on a mountain, but in an office.

“I noticed that many of us as workers were stressed, overwhelmed and dealing with depression,” Klaas said. “I felt that someone had to stand up and come up with a healthy solution.” Her solution was hiking, which she introduced as a workplace wellness initiative. Though it was well received, the initiative later collapsed due to internal politics.

Instead of shelving the idea, Klaas expanded it beyond the workplace and into the community she calls home. “That did not stop me, because the vision was bigger than the workplace,” she said. Starting with just six hikers, Rise & Hike Mdantsane was launched in April 2025. There were no branded shirts, no sponsorships and no expectations, just a shared desire to move, connect and breathe.