Johannesburg - The Bikers for Mandela brigade are preparing once again to set off across the country to do their humanitarian duty and honour the legacy left by the late former president.
This time, radio and television personality DJ Fresh, Mandela’s former private secretary Zelda la Grange, Metro FM newsreader Angie Khumalo and other celebrities will for the first time take the campaign to Mozambique.
La Grange, the convener of the bikers since the initiative started seven years ago, said on Monday the stop in South Africa’s neighbouring country would be to create awareness around malaria.
“The ‘Goodbye Malaria’ campaign is to educate people about one of the biggest killers on the African continent,” she said, adding that it was important to include other African countries in their trip as they had all benefited from Mandela’s work.
But the team of almost 60 have a lot more planned during their five-day adventure, which will begin on Thursday 14 July end the following Monday, 18 July, which marks Mandela Day.
To celebrate Mandela, who gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity, the bikers will also visit several other places including Nelspruit and Mamelodi.
Under the overall theme, ‘Inspire Confidence’, which places a large focus on gender-based violence, the team of bikers will find themselves in remote locations around the country.
“The reception we get in these small areas is unbelievable,” La Grange said, “because we get to revive Madiba Magic in rural areas and make people there know that they are acknowledged.”
Charitable work
But for DJ Fresh, whose real name is Thato Sikwane, his favourite part of the campaign is the charitable work the team does during their time on the road.
“There is something about giving that I’m drawn to,” he said. “It fuels me.”
The popular DJ, who will be part of Bikers for Mandela for the fifth time this year, will bring his wife and three young children with him on the trip.
“My kids love it,” he explained. “It instils in them that they need to give a damn about others and now they are much more giving.”
Although Sikwane stressed the importance of giving back to charity for 67 minutes on 18 July , he insisted that people should continue doing more long after the day has passed regardless of financial constraints.
“Mandela Day and any other day is not about money but about people giving their time to help others,” he said.
He would also like to see the communities that Bikers for Mandela visit continue their charitable involvement long after the team have left.
The Star