Cycling success: Ingwavuma youth rides to Africa’s elite ranks

The Rotary Club of Empangeni is proud of a young star cyclist from Ingwavuma, who earned 7th placed at the recent 2025 CAC MTB African Championships Cross Country Marathon category.

Held on KZN soil at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg from 16 to 18 June, Halalisani Ndebele competed against 32 other elite cyclists.

Fifteen years ago, he was given a bike in Ingwavuma, thanks to the Empangeni Rotary Club.

During that time, the club, along with international support and sponsors, has received second-hand bicycles internationally to be distributed to people in need across South Africa.

“We were focusing on changing lives of young schoolchildren one bike at a time,” said Rotary Club of Empangeni president Andrew Killick.

The project was managed by the Rotary champion, Fulvio Pace from Empangeni.

The first container went to Ingwavuma, with Neil Coetzee of Zonki’Zizwe Church as site co-ordinator.

Once bikes were assembled and checked over, they were attributed to worthy recipients – one of whom was Halalisani, who became extremely passionate and dedicated to cycling.

“He started with a bike with old-style brakes, no shock absorbers, and he had no fancy cycling equipment,” said Killick.

Halalisani has matured as a cyclist and was sponsored for the Bell Big 5 mountain bike series.

He performed well and his dedication paid off as he was spotted by the Exxaro development team. He was then given a contract with the Coopetto professional cycling team.

“We are very proud of Halalisani’s achievements and hope this will be an inspiration to all other cyclists,” said Coetzee.

Anyone willing and able to support the next generation of cyclists is encouraged to donate cycling helmets and accessories for the young riders at the Zonki’Zizwe Church cycling club.

For more information, contact Neil Coetzee on neilshell97@gmail.com

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