The 2022 SUV Challenge Eastern Cape Tour is currently taking place, traversing from the border of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces in Port Edward, through Port St Johns, Mthatha, East London, Gqeberha, ending off at the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve.
The event started on Wednesday, March 16, and finishes on Sunday, March 20.
Siyavuya Mbete, chief executive officer of the Siyavuya Foundation, said: “We are excited to be hosting the fourth instalment of the SUV Challenge Eastern Cape Tour this year. We are even more so excited with the event’s elevated efforts towards corporate social investment, made possible by our event partners,” said Mbete.
Now in its fourth year, the SUV Challenge Eastern Cape Tour was established by the Siyavuya Foundation in 2018 to showcase the Eastern Cape province’s tourist attractions and rich heritage, while providing participants off-roading experience on the province’s beautiful mountainous terrain on premium SUVs.
Furthermore, the event engages in road safety education and community outreach initiatives along the tour route.
“Throughout the years, the SUV Challenge has provided a platform for society, the private and public sectors to converge and collaborate on community development efforts that will not only boost the communities affected by the tour but leave a legacy that will enhance the province’s socioeconomic outlook,” explained Mbete.
This year’s event will see community outreach activities hosted at homesteads of struggle icons, Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela in Mbongweni Village, Tata Oliver Reginald (O.R) Tambo in Nkantolo Village and Tata Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela in Mqekezweni Great Place.
The tour will include a site visit to the R1.65 billion cable stayed Msikaba Bridge, under construction in the Wild Coast region, which, upon completion, will be the third highest bridge in Africa.
A road safety activation will be undertaken at the Kei Bridge followed by a clean up campaign in East London. Participants will then tour the Sunshine Coast towards Gqeberha and end the tour at Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve.
This year’s event partners include Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism, SABC’s Morning Live, MTN, Brand SA, National Lotteries Commission, Nissan, Buffalo Toyota, Meyers Motors, Isuzu, UBank, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and the Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality.
Institutions of higher learning such as the University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University, Nelson Mandela University and King Hintsa FET College will take part in the programme.
Media personalities are set to deliver motivational talks at the community outreach activations to inspire learners to rise above their prevailing circumstances.
The celebrity line-up includes the likes of Thulasizwe Dambuza, Lungile Mcunu, Kamo Mphela, Brinette Seopela, Gugu Khathi, Mfumu Mhinga, Tandokazi Mfundisi, Zikhona Sodlaka, Pamela Mntanga, Mohale Motaung and Liopelo Maphathe.
“The Eastern Cape province is South Africa’s poorest province with around one million people in rural areas of the province living in poverty. The SUV Challenge, as an agent of change, seeks to make a meaningful and impactful contribution by bringing together various stakeholders for the greater benefit of the province,” said Mbete.
