Pretoria - Popular 5fm disc jockey, DJ Fresh, is one of the personalities who has joined the group of bikers who will be embarking on a tour to support Mandela Day.
Mandela Day is a day of public service, where members of the public are encouraged to do something good for at least 67 minutes in honour of more than 67 years that Madiba dedicated to public service and the fight for social justice.
Former President Mandela celebrates his birthday on July 18 and will turn 93. The riders will depart from Montecasino, Johannesburg, on July 11.
This year's route covers Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, as well as a section of Swaziland. The bikers return to Pretoria on Nelson Mandela's birthday on July 18.
Bikers for Mandela will be visiting community projects along the 2011 route, devoting 67 minutes of their time at each one to activities that will leave a lasting and sustainable impact on their beneficiaries.
A key addition to this year's more than 2 200 kilometre ride into a significantly more rural terrain than before is veterinarian, Dr Kobus van der Merwe.
He will be educating communities and treating animals at the community stop-offs with the support of sponsors.
Zelda la Grange of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) said: "The need for care and awareness of animals was something that we noticed in 2010. Having Kobus riding with us in a support vehicle will make a real impact on the communities we visit."
Van Der Merwe's is not the only animal-centred presence on the 2011 Bikers for Mandela Day ride.
The Industrial Development Corporation will be using the ride to enhance the Nguni Cattle Project, which aims to reintroduce the hardy, indigenous Nguni cattle into rural communities and to explain the economic sustainability to be benefitted from in rural communities if blood lines are kept pure and animals taken care of properly.
The riders on the 2011 Bikers for Mandela Day trip have expressed their delight at participating in this year's event as part of Nelson Mandela Day.
Singer Bok van Blerk said: "I'm very privileged to be part of this wonderful initiative again this year. I can't wait to start my bike in this cold winter and make some hearts warm along the way."
5FM news reader Angie Khumalo said the chance to "be part of something bigger than ourselves" was key to her decision to participate.
"I think we get so bogged down with our own lives that we become desensitized to the plight of the less fortunate.
"For me personally, this will be a wonderful opportunity to become re-sensitized and I'm honored to be able to participate in furthering Madiba's legacy of giving ones time for the betterment of one's community. Being able to do that while riding my dream bike, is just a very tasty cherry on top."
Isidingo actor Jack Devnarain said: "It's a privilege to be among the group of riders again reaching out to thousands of lives."
"I am inspired by the notion that we are not so much about charity as we are about empowerment and again, we will demonstrate throughout our journey that we are all responsible for our people, our country, and our world. Through our actions we will remind people that we all possess the humanity that defines the Mandela legacy."
Other celebrities who are part of the riders group include Survivor SA Maldives winner and Binnelanders actor, Hykie Berg, while Letshego Moshoeu, Survivor SA Maldives 2011 runner-up will ride pillion with businessman Motheo Sekgaphane.
Actress Hanna Grobbler will be riding pillion with Van Blerk.
Also joining the group are legendary off-road motorbike trainer, Jan du Toit (Jan Staal); Saint Seseli, actor and Bike SA writer; Ramon Changuion of the Christian Motorcycle Association; and businessmen, Constant Visser, Brendon Neuper and Gert van Wyk.
