The much anticipated African Bike Week Festival – Let’s Go 2022 has been postponed until next year (April 27 to May 1, 2023).
This follows a series of devastating floods in KwaZulu-Natal which had left the road network seriously compromised.
Event organiser, Vicky Wentzel said so much good work had been done on the road network in preparation for the rescheduled August event, however this was all undone with a second devastating flood in May.
“We are utterly dismayed at the set of circumstances that have left us to take counsel from our safety and security partners and understand this is hugely difficult for those in the tourism industry who rely on the events we bring to the KZN South Coast that help reset and boost the local economy,” she said.
Wentzel added that bringing an additional 18 000 bikers from around Africa into our current KZN road network would be extremely dangerous, and lives matter more.
“The continent’s biggest biker festival will still go ahead in April 2023 once the necessary infrastructural repairs have been done, and services are operational.”
Mayor Sikhumbuzo Mqadi of Ray Nkonyeni Municipality, said the decision to delay the event was not taken lightly, but considering the risks, the right decision has been made.
“At this stage, it would be extremely reckless to host any form of motorcycle event, considering the state of our roads and the disruption to services. The safety of the public is our priority. Rest assured, we will work hard to prepare for the new dates when we are ready to welcome tourists to our region.”
A spokesperson from KZN’s Department of Transport said the province is working timeously to ensure that the road networks are re-established and look forward to hosting their biking friends from around Africa once restoration of roads has been undertaken.
The South Coast Presidents Biking Council expressed much regret about the decision to cancel bike week, as bikers look forward to meeting and enjoying, what has always been one of the best attended biking events, in the country.
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