R20m boost sees 2,500 bikes produced
A R20m investment made by East London car giant Mercedes-Benz South Africa into the Real Bicycle Company (RBC) has seen the local bicycle manufacturer, a division of Qhubeka Charity, produce more than 2,500 Qhubeka bicycles.
Qhubeka moved from importing and assembling bicycles to manufacturing them locally and creating jobs, especially for women and disabled persons in the Buffalo City region. Qhubeka Charity founder Anthony Fitzhenry said they had enhanced skills transfer through the Mercedes-Benz Learning Academy, which had stimulated the local economy and had improved mobility of people.
“We are excited to be producing our own bicycles through RBC. This wouldn’t have been possible without the buy-in of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, who provided the funding to establish the factory and their invaluable expertise in the automotive manufacturing environment,” said Fitzhenry.
“Having perfected the bicycle prototype, RBC is currently scaling its manufacturing capabilities.
“The project also fitted in with Qhubeka’s learn-to-earn, work-to-earn and disaster relief programmes.”
Fitzhenry said RBC-built bicycles would be available for sale to the general public, presenting a new income stream for the charity.
Mercedes-Benz also announced a three-year sponsorship of vehicles for Team Dimension Data, who cycle in support of Qhubeka Charity.
Mercedes-Benz South Africa and executive director of Mercedes-Benz Cars Mercedes CoCEO Johannes Fritz said they continued to support the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation legacy through its role as the country patron sponsor in South Africa.
Fritz said: “Mercedes-Benz and Laureus both believe in the power of passion, determination and perseverance. Laureus imparts these qualities to the youth through the medium of sport.
“It is through this strong relationship between Mercedes-Benz and the Laureus Foundation that Mercedes-Benz was introduced to Qhubeka Charity, a non-profit company that works to move people forward by improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs with bicycles. In 2017, Qhubeka Charity established a fullyowned bicycle design and manufacturing subsidiary, Real Bicycle Co, which shares a hometown with the automotive manufacturer’s plant,” he said.
Fritz said they would procure 350 RBC-built bicycles from Qhubeka Charity as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
“These bicycles will be donated to learners of Nyameko High School in NU8 Mdantsane – a school which is part of the company’s school transformation and empowerment programme (Step).”
Fritz said the German auto- motive giant hoped to continue its efforts to promote South African and African participation within the greatest spectator tournament in the world in their partnership, as the team’s official vehicle partner for a period of three years.
“Just last year, the Amaury Sport Organization, the organisers of the Tour De France, agreed to fund one Qhubeka bicycle for every rider in the Tour. That is 176 bicycles per year as part of its ‘future of cycling’ initiative that will provide cycling equipment for children until 2020,” said Fritz.
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, a Laureus Ambassador since 2014, will carry the three-pointed Qubeka star on the collar of their jerseys as they race across the globe over approximately 280 days in this year.
Team principal of Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka, Douglas Ryder, said they had received great support from the giant car company.
“Mercedes-Benz has been an incredible supporter of our Team Dimension Data UCI Continental Team in South Africa and the Qhubeka Charity. This shows how much they care about the development of people, sports talent and the mobility of communities.
“To extend that partnership into the World Tour team is a real privilege, where high performance and reliability across our demanding race schedule in multiple countries and varied terrain is critical to our success,” said Ryder.