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011FOCUS | By Nomndeni Motha

Tucked inside the glamorous walls of Sandton City is an initiative that’s quietly rewriting what shopping centres can mean to their communities, and what music can mean to the youth: Words That Heal, a collaboration between Sandton City and the Riky Rick Foundation.

‘Words That Heal’ is not just another campaign, it’s a memorial and an art project.

Why It Matters

South Africa is facing a mental-health crisis. Many young people are navigating stress, depression, or anxiety. And while therapy remains out of reach for many, music, art, and words provide a bridge to healing. This is art at work.

The focus on words leans into the reality that the things we say, to ourselves and to others, carry the power to break or to build. This project is a way of continuing Riky Rick’s work. His legacy has always been about more than just music. It’s about community upliftment, fashion as identity, and words as a tool for survival.

How It Works

The concept of the campaign is simple:

• Send a voice note: Anyone can WhatsApp a short message of hope or encouragement to 063 980 5816
• Voices become music: These words will be compiled into a song, produced with South African artists, and released on streaming platforms
• Access to therapy: Royalties from the song, plus donations and merchandise sales, will help fund free therapy sessions for young people through the Riky Rick Foundation

More Than a Song

The campaign is divided into two phases:

Phase One: Voice note collection and song production

Phase Two: An activation inside Sandton City (Sept–Oct) featuring:

• A pop-up retail space
• Limited-edition merchandise designed with artist Samurai Farai
• Listening stations for the completed song and Riky Rick’s last album

What You Can Do

Your words matter. Send a voice note. Share hope. Be part of the healing.

1. Send a voice note to 063 980 5816.
2. Share the campaign on social media.
3. Visit Sandton City during the pop-up phase.
4. Support the merchandise range.
5. Reflect on how you use your own words. Sometimes self-kindness is the first
   step to healing. Speak kindly to others; you never want to be the reason for
   someone’s struggle.