The bikers, including Jack Devnarain; Jeremy Mansfield; Lehlohonolo Saint Seseli; and Hanna Grobler, will also work in community projects in various towns en route as their contribution to Mandela Day.

At a press conference to see off the bikers, Nelson Mandela Foundation Chief Executive, Achmat Dangor, said he believed the “journey would touch people everywhere.”

ANC MP, Buthi Manamela, speaking on behalf of the South African Parliament, said the bikers were “messengers who, throughout the country will at each and every stop be planting the seed of Madiba’s values.” He added: “Let us do something as communities, let us make every day a Mandela Day.”

Morgan Freeman told the gathering, “I am not a speaker, I am an actor and I don’t have a script. I am very happy to be here and take part in Mandela Day in South Africa.”

South African actor, Jack Devnarain, said: “Part of our message is to remind South Africans that we are all inspired and our task is to inspire eachother … the great goal is to remind people that Mandela Day is not just about 67 years of sacrifice and service, it is about living a lifetime of sacrifice and service.”

Kaya FM General Manager, Greg Maloka, made a pledge and challenged all other broadcasters to the same. He said his radio station would “broadcast two messages every day for 67 years which will focus purely on Mandela.” He then handed Dangor a framed broadcast schedule from 18 July 2010 to 18 July 2077.

Wishing the bikers well on behalf of the City of Johannesburg, Gabu Tugwana said: “As the home of Madiba, the City of Johannesburg is very pleased to be part of this initiative … [this] is a very noble task of trying to keep the conscience of the nation alive.”

Route:

Day One
Tuesday, 13 July:
09:00 Depart Johannesburg
11.30 Visit Matlosana (Khuma township – Mandela Day activity) Hand over of donation of blankets raised by bikers to council
12:30 Depart Matlosana

Day Two
Wednesday, 14 July
07:40 Press conference, Southern Sun Bloemfontein
10:00 Visit Lebone House (outside Bloemfontein) for Mandela Day activity – weeding garden; painting; replanting of trees
To Graaff Reinet

Day Three
Thursday, 15 July
Depart for De Rust
14:30 Mandela Day activity at De Rust Farm School – complete a pre-fab building raised by Bikers
To Oudtshoorn

Day Four
Friday, 16 July
To Barrydale
12:30 Support Barrydale Cares for Mandela Day Project at Barrydale Town Hall – assistance in soup kitchen and hand out blankets raised by Bikers
17:00 Clean cages; walk dogs; and support workers at the SPCA in Ashton – Mandela Day activity

Day Five
Saturday, 17 July
To Robertson
09:45 – Mandela Day activity at Die Herberg Children’s Orphanage – paint wall in pre-primary school
To Wellington
Work in soup kitchen outside Wellington to prepare food for community, participate in young girls counselling and guide the boys soccer team
To Franschoek

Day Six
Sunday, 18 July
10:00 Mandela Day activity – AIDS Response, Khayelitsha – complete fence to be erected around the centre raised by Bikers
12:00 arrive Cape Town City Hall
13:00 Press conference at the One and Only, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Bikers:
1. Paul Mvulane Mnisi – AKA Rudeboy Paul, YFM presenter and prominent businessman
2. Jeremy Mansfield – The Rude Awakening 94.7 Highveld Stereo anchor
3. Jack Devnarain – Isidingo actor
4. Darren Kelfkens – Producer and former Egoli actor
5. Hanna Grobler – Survivor SA contestant and actor
6. Sean Shipalana – Prominent businessman and owner of Gold Rand Harley
7. James Kilbourn – Radio OFM presenter
8. Sithembiso Khoza – prominent businessman
9. Bertus Prinsloo – Owner Outdoor Medical
10. Haydn Townsend – Trinergy/Vodacom
11. Ivan Zimmerman – Singer andActor
12. Jacqui Mansfield – award winning author
13. Jan du Toit – legendary off road motorbike rider/trainer
14. Lehlohonolo Saint Seseli – Motorbiking expert and columnist
15. Lori McCreary – Film producer
16. Louis Pepler – Bok van Blerk – award winning singer
17. Ramon Changuion – Off Road tutor and member of the Christian Motorcycle Association
18. Grant Roberts – actor
19. Nico Grobler – MBG security for bikers
20. Zelda la Grange – NMF
21. Constant Visser – Businessman

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is making a special appeal to the country’s biking community to support the Mandela Day tour by performing a good service of some kind in their own home town and local communities.

Mandela Day, 18 July, celebrates the 92nd birthday of Nelson Mandela, and is a call to action for all South Africans to make a difference in the places in which they live and work. Declared ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’ by the United Nations last year, 18 July is one day in the year that people across the globe can band together to serve the communities around them and work towards a better tomorrow.

We are all urged to Make Everyday a Mandela Day.

Special thanks to:
Vodacom, Absa, and Spar

Also thanks to:
Square Roofing; SABC; Kaya Fm; Wimpy; ABI; Imison; Bokomo Foods; Tiger Brands; OFM; Gold-Rand Harley Davidson; BMW; Audi; Willards; Sesli blankets; Yamaha; Outdoor Medical; Cadbury; RTT; Simba; Coca Cola; Metro Police; provincial Traffic Departments; SAPS; Mayors and Premiers of provinces.

For further information:
Sello Hatang: 082 868 9944 or selloh@nelsonmandela.org.