Sarel leads from the front, not just at Sapa Yopa

POLOKWANE – He is seen as a community leader and a mentor in both his professional and private life, where he enjoys biking and travelling more than anything else.

Born in Seshego, Sarel grew up in boarding schools across Limpopo. His love for biking started while he was attending a boarding school on the Matlala road.

“In the school, a boys’ only boarding school, we knew each other as brothers and it was one of my brothers who taught me to ride a motorbike. In the school there were different activities and riding a motorbike was the sport I chose,” Sarel says.

After school, he studied building science, but because he did not want to work in construction all his life, he returned to the University of Pretoria to study SQL administration and added that to his name as well.

After completing his studies he went to work for Telkom in Gauteng for around five years, finally deciding to resign and start his own computer shop with a friend in Braamfontein.

“I grew up in Limpopo and just could not adapt to the big city and I soon moved back to Polokwane where I bought a house to settle down in,” he says.

He said the move back to Polokwane made him change his ways and he went from a regular drinker to a more responsible man.

“I decided, as I was moving closer to my parents, I needed to become someone they could be proud of and when I bought my first superbike in 2013 I started to explore Limpopo,” he said.

A passion for riding is born

He says many of his friends came to visit him and he took them for rides to places such as Magoebaskloof.

Shortly after Sapa Yopa Motorcycle Club was born in November 2008, he joined the club and is now its president. With 172 members, the club is the fastest growing motorcycle club in Africa and is quickly spreading to Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

Sarel’s travelling did not stop after joining and he has visited 28 countries and cities including Paris, France.

Paris is a place everyone should experiene. Everyone should make a point of travelling. It just takes planning and before you know it you have seen the world.

He says people should get youngsters involved in travelling and seeing the world from a young age. This will give them the chance to see what is happening in the world.

“People think taking a trip to another country is expensive and they may never be able to do so.

“But you may find a person goes to Gauteng for a weekend which can cost them thousands of rands, when that same amount could buy them a few days in a country they have never seen before,” Sarel says.

At the age of 37, Sarel is not married yet, but says it is something within his reach.

“I am an African man and as such I want to first have the best home I can for my wife to be and my two daughters. This means I still have some things to sort out, but I will be married soon.”

More than just a biker

He recently opened a construction company and says business is going well.

“However, I don’t plan on working forever, I see myself retiring early.

“I want to retire when I am 50. My plans for the future include hard work, having everything I need and really want when I retire and, above all, having something to sustain me and my family for a very long time while I am still looking after my parents as well,” Sarel said.

He added that, most importantly, he will still be riding his motorbike.

“Riding a motorbike relaxes me. I also don’t ride with ill disciplined riders as this impacts my ability to relax and enjoy the ride negatively.”

He says being the president of Sapa Yopa has helped him be involved in many non-profit organisations and projects, and he would like to thank the people of Limpopo for their support of Sapa Yopa.

“The only thing I would like to ask is for people to get more and more involved in what Sapa Yopa is doing and support the club while we help make a difference in the lives of so many people who are in need.”