LEGACY RIDE4HOPE CYCLISTS MAKE MEMORIES IN KZN
A life-changing journey spreads a message of hope from Gauteng to KZN
We’ll be back next year promised Legacy Ride4Hope sponsors and cyclists as they opened two refurbished classrooms and the fencing for the entire eMphophomeni Secondary School in Howick, on Saturday afternoon (September 23, 2023).
After completing 104km on the final day of the four-day 550km cycle tour from the historic Vilakazi Street in Soweto to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site in Howick, 80 cyclists had fulfilled the goal of this epic two wheeler trek – to raise funds for charitable causes and to spread a message of hope along the route between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
They visited eMphophomeni Secondary School, inspected the refurbished classrooms and celebrated with the pupils and the members of the school governing body who will be beneficiaries of the classrooms.
Nosipho Simelane, a Board Trustee of the Legacy eRide4Hope Foundation told all gathered at the school that the purpose of the cycle tour was to do good for others and that each kilometre cycled was to better someone else’s life.
Despite riding over 104km from Ladysmith to Howick, the cyclists were filled with energy and excitement, and many described the cycle tour as a lifetime experience. It was summed up in a passing comment: “Victory is so sweet, I feel that I could ride some more”.
Lungelo Radebe, who cycled for KwaZulu-Natal described his experiences as really amazing. “You just need to be there to understand this experience. “When Tourism KZN invited me to ride, I accepted immediately. It’s such a privilege for me to ride for them.”
Having not been in KZN since she was in primary school, and now seeing all the villages and the towns while riding through was fantastic. The places they stayed in were awesome, said Mari du Toit. Everyone described the accommodation and hospitality provided throughout the tour as exceptional.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal is the KZN accommodation and hospitality partner with the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) and its Legacy Ride4Hope initiative as it provides an opportunity to promote KwaZulu-Natal to sports tourism enthusiasts participating from across the country.
“We have found that one of the best ways to market and promote KZN as a holiday destination is through word of mouth – though people sharing their great experiences with others via social media. By ensuring travellers have a wonderful experience, we create tourism ambassadors for KZN,” said Pinky Radebe Tourism KZN Senior PR and Communications Manager.
A partnership with the NMF enables us to continue to position KZN as a sports destination and encourage groups of like-minded people to travel here together.
Importantly for us, the Ride4Hope event crossed several towns, provided scenic variety, and ended in the Midlands at the Nelson Mandela Capture site. So often events only focus on the major cities.
To all the cyclist Radebe said: “We hope that you had a chance to look around at the scenic route as you rode, that your stay at Anew Vulintaba Resort in Newcastle and Anew Hilton Hotel in the KZN midlands was memorable, that you Tweet it loudly, Instagram it boldly, blog it boisterously and return to the Zulu Kingdom with your families this Summer.
The capture site with its iconic sculpture of Nelson Mandela has become a major tourism attraction and was the perfect ending to this amazing cycle tour.
The visitor centre’s immersive exhibition includes a 360-surround film, a dazzling display of historical artefacts and photographs, as well as a replica of the Austin Westminster that Nelson Mandela was driving, disguised as a chauffeur, when he was arrested along the quiet stretch of R103 on 5 August 1962.
The exhibition focuses on struggles in KwaZulu-Nata. Starting with the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906, it traces decades of resistance to colonial rule and apartheid, culminating in the mass mobilisation of the 1980s. In this way, the place of Mandela’s capture becomes a gateway to understanding the history of KZN and its contribution to the freedom of all South Africans.
