South Coast Bike Fest a big boost for Margate
The coast was buzzing with activity, and initial reports suggest that the weekend was a bumper one, with accommodation establishments as far north as Scottburgh apparently fully booked.
Early indications are that this, the second South Coast Bike Fest (SCBF2018), was a resounding success.
The spectacular event, hosted in magical Margate, attracted thousands of visitors from far and wide and provided a welcome economic boost for the South Coast.
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Crowds flocked to the seaside town and were treated to four days of extreme motorbike stunts, classic bike displays, festival-themed bars, various corporate dealership decks, 22 restaurants and food stalls and an incredible musical line-up which boasted more than 30 top South African artists.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, there were street buskers, marching bands, street hip hop artists, dancers and even a vibrant Bollywood programme.
The coast was buzzing with activity, and initial reports suggest that the weekend was a bumper one, with accommodation establishments as far north as Scottburgh apparently fully booked.
Event organiser, Vicky Wentzel of Wozani Africa Events, said feedback from those who visited Margate over the long weekend was ‘overwhelmingly positive’, despite the R60 entrance fee charged this year.
“I loved the wonderful interaction of a broad spectrum of races and cultures. Everyone – from security, police and law enforcement to the organising teams and the general public – worked beautifully together to make this event a success,” she added, thanking everyone involved.
Ward 2 councillor Dave Watson said the festival was ‘a tremendous economic boost’ for the community at large.
He pointed out that events like SCBF2018 were vital to the building of the local economy and hugely important in growing the economic opportunities that would address the unacceptably high unemployment rate.
“Businesses, ratepayers, residents and visitors would like to thank the team which put together this world-class event. They did our area proud,” he said.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality mayor Cynthia Mqwebu described SCBF2018 as ‘a magnificent festival which celebrated the diverse cultures and unification of communities through outdoor activities and family-friendly entertainment’.
“The overall response to both the event and the South Coast region was overwhelmingly positive, with many visitors extending their stay for the entire long weekend,” she said.
Justin Mackrory, CEO Ugu South Coast Tourism added that they were thrilled with the success of the bike fest and were ‘pleased to continue the legacy of this great motorcycle event’.
A notable trait that connects all biking communities is a shared dedication to charity drives. This year, South Coast Bike Fest riders chose to support the non-profit organisation, ‘1 Million School Shoes’.
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Although organisers were forced to cancel last Sunday’s charity ride due to bad weather, an enthusiastic group of bikers still brought along donations of cash and school shoes before setting off on a short, informal mass ride.
The only tragedy reported over the weekend were the father and son from Durban who were seriously injured in a collision with a vehicle on the N2 at Umzumbe after attending the first day of the festival last Friday.
And if two wheels are not your thing, you had the option of joining hundreds of runners and walkers from around the province who took to the streets on Tuesday this week for the well-organised Hibiscus Challenge, a joint initiative between South Coast Striders and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality.
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