his year we’ve brought you a range of exciting stories about the roads that carry South Africans to all four corners of this country, and about the people who use those roads. Since December is a time for reflecting on the year that was, and January’s a time for looking ahead, we thought this would be a great opportunity to look back at our favourite articles and take you along for the ride.
For seven years, a vast group of bikers have been honouring the sacrifices made by Nelson Mandela by taking to the road to do good work.
On 13 July 2010, a group of 21 motorbike riders departed the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg on a six-day road trip to Cape Town to raise awareness about Mandela Day.
Among those first riders was businessman and owner of Gold Rand Harley, Sean Shipalana, who had made some of his bikes available for other riders on that first journey. Although he has since sold the dealership, Sean continues to participate in Bikers for Mandela Day.
Every year, each faction of Bikers for Mandela Day establishes its route, sponsorships and the causes it plans to support, in communication with the various riders. Of course, riding on the open road is not exactly a trial for Shipalana and the other bikers.
“There is nothing better than being inside your head in a helmet, constantly watching the road but allowing your thoughts to meander,” he says. On a Bikers for Mandela Day run, Sean never loses sight of the debt of gratitude he believes our nation owes Madiba. “But we can never do enough,” he says.