Young cyclists seek help with new gear

A FORMER Ocean View drug addict is doing his bit to help youngsters steer clear of drugs and gangs in his community.

Abduraghiem de Klerk, 58, trains boys to cycle and has been entering them in the Cape Town Cycle Tour for the past six years. The group of 15 boys won several accolades at winter league events in Oudtshoorn and Bloemfontein last year and the year before.

However, the cycling club is now at risk of shutting down because they are using old bikes and broken training gear.

De Klerk’s wife, Sageda, made a Facebook plea a few weeks ago to urge Capetonians to lend a helping hand. “My husband is succeeding to keep learners off the streets and away from drugs with his cycling programme.

“We are, though, needing road bikes, bike parts, wheels, tyres, tubes, etc,” she posted.

Sageda said their equipment woes might prevent the boys competing in events this year, although they were trying to raise funds to buy some of the gear required.

De Klerk said he had been hooked on a range of drugs and had spent thousands of rands on his addiction. “I have now been clean for about 15 years and when I look back on my life back then, I don’t want our children to fall into that trap of drugs because it is a very dark world that is not easy to escape.

“It is a miracle that I am where I am today and am able to help even one boy in our community escape the pres- sure of drugs.”

He said it was easy to get hooked on drugs and gangs in Ocean View. “We had a 13-yearold boy who used to run with us as we were still trying to build his resistance, but somehow he got caught up with some bad elements and is now smoking glue.

“When I look at him, I can see in his eyes that he wishes to cycle with us.

“I choose the boys I see around the area that are at risk of being roped into drugs and I really don’t want any more of our young people going down that path,” he said.

Jared Uithaler, 15, said being part of the cycling team was not only fun but helped him focus.

“This area is rife with gangs and it is very easy for us youngsters to fall prey to the older ones who want to recruit us into the drugs and once you start with the drugs, it is easy to be part of a gang. I have been cycling for two years now with Mr De Klerk and I can really say the cycling is changing my life,” the Grade 10 pupil said.

Fellow team member Mitch Maree, 15, said he had been approached to join a gang several times but because he was part of the cycling team had resisted the pressure.

He and his fellow cyclists trained every day and this occupied most of his time. “From school I go for the cycling, then it’s too late to do anything but go home and do homework and sleep,” he said.

The De Klerks may be contacted on 072 9135 865.

asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za