Cape Town Pastor carrying a life-size wooden cross on his shoulder spotted in Musina on 10,000km Walk to Israel

LOCAL NEWS

By Staff Reporter

MUSINA – Street evangelist and pastor Reini Coetzee has reached Musina, Limpopo, as part of his remarkable 10,000-kilometre pilgrimage from Cape Town to Jerusalem, carrying a life-size wooden cross on his shoulder.

The 54-year-old pastor began his spiritual journey on 16 March 2025 from Signal Hill in Cape Town, walking with the mission to spread Jesus’s message of hope and pray for healing across Africa.

Coetzee, known as “the man with the cross”, arrived in Louis Trichardt on Monday, 13 October, before continuing to Musina a week later. His trek, which has now spanned over 1,850 kilometres, is both a test of faith and endurance.

“So far, I have experienced no trauma or drama on the road. The hearts of South Africans are open. They make sure I have food and water,” Coetzee told a local publication Limpopo Mirror during a stopover.

With a small backpack, a few energy bars, and water bottles—often provided by strangers—Reini travels light, saying, “From Signal Hill to here, people’s kindness has carried me.” Along the way, he has been offered accommodation by locals, including farmers and guesthouse owners.

According to Coetzee, his journey is not just physical but deeply spiritual. “I was called to take up the cross and walk—not only to share the Gospel but also to pray for broken people and remind them of the greatest sacrifice Jesus made for them,” he said.

This is not his first such mission. Previously, Coetzee walked from Cape Town to Beitbridge, but this time he aims to take his message through multiple African countries, all the way to Jerusalem in Israel.

“I’m walking for our country, South Africa, and for the continent of Africa. People are weary. I sometimes see people come to this cross and cry,” he shared.

Despite the uncertainty ahead, Coetzee says he walks in faith. “I don’t have a schedule. I take it one day at a time, and every 1,000 km is a milestone.”

Supporters can follow Reini Coetzee’s journey on his Facebook page, Cross Walk Africa, where he documents his progress and interactions with people along the way.

As he continues his long road north beyond Musina, Coetzee’s symbolic walk serves as a moving reminder of faith, endurance, and unity across borders.