A cycling team in Qalabotjha, Villiiers, is on a mission to go beyond just cycling.
Not only is cycling part of sport, training and exercise for Qalabotjha Raising Cycling Champions but it has become an instrument of social change. The team is involved in raising awareness in social issues and supporting other local organisations that deal with community development.
Currently the team is involved in Peo Project with other local organisations in Qalabotjha amongst them Intsika Youth Development Centre, Mahlasedi, I mentor UFS, local business to plant and produce vegetables that will regularly help to feed needy families in the community.
The Peo-Project has already got a building and a piece of land they will be using as its home for the vegetable garden. However, the project has been halted temporarily due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Qalabotjha Rising Cycling Champions was formed in 2018 by Tshepo Moloi after a solo race event called ‘One-man road to Villiers’ aimed at raising funds to help school children with uniforms and shoes.
The team has also participated in many local and national races such as 947 Discovery Ride, Meals on Wheels, Easter Elite Ride Tour amongst other.
According to Moloi the team is already recruiting members, and anyone interested in other Mafube Municipality towns of Frankfort, Tweeling and Cornelia.
“Our main goal with the cycling team is to have one Mafube cycling team and later have one big annual race right here in our community of Mafube” said Moloi.
The team is however faced with challenges of funding and other forms of assistance in achieving its goals and mission.
“Our main challenge is lack of resources and materials in both the cycling and Peo Project such as seeds, garden equipment, Bicycle spares etc, and I’m currently riding about 170km regularly from Johannesburg to Villiers to try raise funds and assistance. The cycling team has also currently started Qalabotjha-Villiers deliveries were they deliver parcels and order using their bicycles to try and raise funds for these projects,” said Moloi.
