Pretoria Bikers Add Extra Colour To Kim Memorial

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday August 9, 2010 00:00

 

The Sopranos bikers club is based in Pretoria, South Africa.  Last week more that 10 bikers descended on Francistown.  They were attending the Dr Kim's International Golf Tournament held in memory of the late Francistown medical practitioner, Dr Chong Kim.  The bikers were the guests of tournament organiser, Kina Kim, the son of Dr Kim. 

The bikers were quite a spectacle as they roared their machines along Blue Jacket Street much to the amusement of Francistowners. As they parked their bikes outside a Francistown club, everyone came to watch the 'show'.  The spectators were thrilled by the gleaming machines.  Curious onlookers quizzed the bikers about their machines.  Even some police officers on the scene admired the road monsters.  Other admirers wanted to be taken on a ride. Two of the bikes were three-wheelers.  One of them was said to be worth over P300,000. Traffic came to a standstill as the members of the Sopranos rode in a convoy.   On Saturday, the bikers hit the road again for Makaleng.  At Makaleng, the bikers together with Kina Kim made a donation to the Pelagano Support Group.  The donations consisted of food and blankets. 

The Pelagano Support Group was established in 1999.  The coordinator of the centre, Maureen Magole explained that when they started, they were doing home based care.  She said they only put up a building in 2003 through the assistance of the Nyangabwe Lions Club. Magole said they look after patients from across the board, including old people.  The centre also caters for orphans.  The coordinator said they have been trying to raise funds, but it is difficult because they are in a rural area.  She said the centre depends on donors.  She revealed that they have other interventions like a voluntary testing centre. 

Magole said they also covered surrounding villages.  The only limitation is that they do not have transport to take patients from the other villages. 

For his part, the leader of the Sporanos, Ndumiso Jaca said they are one of the few black bikers in South Africa.  He said they want to be closer to the people and when they heard about the centre's plight, they felt that it needed their support. 

Jaca said Kina Kim was following in his father's footsteps of helping the under privileged.  He said Kina Kim was his business partner in South Africa but they felt that they should give a hand in his projects in Botswana. 

The councillor for the village, Bamien Thapa said he has learnt a lesson about the bikers.  He said he always had the impression that bikers were no good people who caused noise pollution with their bikes.   

But he said the members of the Sopranos have showed him that they can also contribute positively to the community.  'It is history to get people from South Africa to come and help us,' he said. He appealed for more assistance as he said the centre was struggling financially. 

As the bikers rode back to Francistown, they became the envy of the villagers as they roared their machines along the highway. 

But before they left Makaleng, they entertained both children and adults with their bikers.  The bikers rammed their machines much to the amusement of onlookers. 

During the evening at the Francistown Club, they staged a spectacular show.