Local resident and member of the Makhado SAPS's K9 unit Timothy Ramadwa (42), known as "Mr Lover", achieved a significant goal in his life by cycling all the way from Pretoria to Louis Trichardt on his bicycle, covering a distance of 380 kilometres.
The three-day cycling journey started on Saturday, 11 November, and he arrived in Louis Trichardt on Monday, 13 November.
The purpose of this trip, he says, was to pay tribute to the 600 South African soldiers and supporting personnel who had perished when the SS Mendi sank on 21 February 1917 during World War I. "We need to remember those who have died in this war and all succeeding wars each and every year."
Ramadwa offers recreational cycling training to interested young people from all around Vhembe. He says that today's youth have become lost in drugs, something he is grateful to have escaped himself. "Cycling takes our kids off the street and provides them with a healthy lifestyle. As a young boy, I enjoyed riding my bike, so I already had good cycling skills when I took up this sport. I don't think I would otherwise have had the opportunities I got in my life."
He says he is very happy to have fulfilled his dream of successfully completing this trip and he thanks everyone who supported him on his three-day journey.
Cllr Kanaukani Maphubu, who is in charge of sports in the Makhado Municipality, said Ramadwa was setting a good example for local young people by encouraging them to refrain from engaging in criminal activities, drugs, and alcohol abuse. "We need to have more inspirational sport figures like him in our municipality. We are very proud of him," said Maphubu.