Bez Roberts from Mafikizolo on his bicycle riding across South Africa from top to bottom

My name is Bez Roberts. I am professional musician.
I have spent my whole life performing gigs all over the world.

I am a member of the Afro Pop group MAFIKIZOLO, I have toured and recorded with most of South Africa’s greatest musicians,
Brenda Fassie, Bra Hugh , Bongo Maffin, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Johnny Clegg, TKZee and many more,

I also own and run Hartbeespoort Bicycle Hire and overnight cycling tours.

Due to Covid 19, we are not performing at all for many months now, so I have decided to do an
adventure through South Africa, to raise awareness of all the out of work musicians in the
country, but way off the beaten track.

During February and March 2021 I am going to attempt to ride from Botswana to Cape Point, on my own.

I will be totally self sufficient, carrying my own food, water, tent, clothes etc on my mountain
bicycle.

I have done a few trips like this before, but not as long or hard as this one.

I will be riding mainly on dirt roads and tracks, from Botswana, through North West, Northern
Cape, Karoo, Ceres mountains to cape point.

Stopping in small villages and towns along the way.
The are a few reasons for this trip

Firstly, I would like to get the word out about my new business Hartbeespoort bicycle hire and
tours..

To get more people out on bicycle. There really is nothing better.

We obviously hire bikes, but also I take people on overnight trips on the bikes. Same as my
upcoming trip, we load up the bikes with the tents, sleeping bags, food etc and off we go.

I tailor the trips to the personal level of my clients.

We have all the gear to hire to our clients, tents, sleeping bags, panniers and pannier racks,
bikes etc.

More importantly , I have lost some family members and friends this year, due to covid.

Also in July last year, I was hit by a truck at 70kph while cycling. I managed to walk away amazingly. So I
decided there is no better time than now to do such an epic ride.

Thirdly, I’m dying to ride through South africa from top to bottom. My lovely wife Andi said “what
are you waiting for?”

I don’t really need any more excuse than that.

But the big message I would like people to hear is that musicians are still here and desperately
want to work and perform.

So if you are having a get together, however big or small due to
restrictions, #bookaband and #keepmusicalive.

Often for the same fee as a dj, you can. #bookaband in your area to perform live music rather.

The ride will probably be around 1900 kilometers in length. I am hoping to complete it in around
20 days (God willing)

I will be documenting the whole trip with photographs, video and short stories about the places
and people I meet on the way.