Cape Town – The senseless murder of well-known local rider Zelda van Niekerk on Friday 28 September sparked a wave of outrage not only among motorcyclists but also in the public at large.
So when it was decided to hold a memorial ride in Van Niekerk's honour, to celebrate her life, her unstinting involvement in Bikers for a Cause, and to raise funds to help support her six-year-old son, the organisers were inundated with calls from members of the public, asking to join the event, both in solidarity with Van Niekerk's family and friends and to be able to raise their voices against the level of violent crime in South Africa - and the answer was, "yes, of course!".
When asked, Killarney International Raceway executive manager Des Easom, himself a biker, unhesitatingly made the clubhouse available as the end venue for the memorial service on Saturday 6 October.
The riders and their supporters - any vehicle that's allowed on the road is welcome - will gather at the Pick 'n Pay Hypermarket in Brackenfell from 8.30am on Saturday; the ride will leave at 9.30am, escorted by the traffic department, and follow the R300, N2, M5, N1, N7, Koeberg Road and Potsdam Road to Killarney.
There, the marshals will direct the riders to park along the ring road behind the clubhouse and enter the venue via the terrace doors, while a space alongside the building has been reserved for cars bringing elderly or infirm guests.
The downstairs bar in the clubhouse will be open, as will the smoking bar upstairs, and coffee, cool drinks and water will be available from the tuck shop in front of the clubhouse building, where there will also be a number of food vendors on hand.
The memorial service will begin at 11 am, focusing more on celebrating Van Niekerk's life than on the manner in which it ended, and people attending are welcome to stay after the service and spend some time together, to honour the memory of a biker who dedicated most of her life to helping those less fortunate than herself.