You might have spotted a bicycle lugging a large trailer in tow last week.

If you stopped the rider and enquired about his mode of transport, you may have been amazed to hear about Michael van der Merwe’s (47) journey across South Africa to raise funds to assist women and children in need.

Mr van der Merwe embarked on this 6 000 kilometre journey from Carnival City on September 11 and will be riding the streets of South Africa gathering money.

He hopes that the funds he raises will be used to build safe houses for abused and neglected women and children as well as provide skills development, Legal Aid and self-sustaining lives for these women.