For Car and Country
Izuzu Heritage Tour in the Eastern Cape
Izuzu Heritage Tour in the Eastern Cape
Isuzu commemorated its 80th anniversary and its bakkie heritage with a tour through the Eastern Cape, home of the isixhosa, on Heritage Day. Paul van Gass joined the convoy of KB bakkies on the Wild Coast.
Judging by the size of the neatly parked KB bakkie fleet awaiting us at the East London airport, it looked like Isuzu was gearing up for a continuation of Operation Rachel – a joint operation between the South African Police Service and its Mozambican counterpart to curb the cross border trade in weapons and other cross border crimes launched in the early nineties.
Over this period, more than 2,400 hand guns were destroyed, 5,516 sub-machine guns were removed from circulation, more than 3,200 landmines, 13,800 grenades, and most importantly 32,387 rifles – mostly AK47S – as well as 24 million rounds of ammunition were destroyed.
The success of Operation Rachel made it apparent that similar operations were needed in other war-ravaged countries on the borders of South Africa, such as the northern parts of Namibia and southern Angola. From 2007, Isuzu also provided this programme, named Operation Mandume, with KB pickups for logistical support. In its first mission, more than 34,000 pieces of weaponry were destroyed.
THE LEGACY OF MANDELA
Interesting history, I hear you say, but what has this to do with the Heritage Tour? Well, it was then President Nelson Mandela – a son of the Eastern Cape – who initiated the accord with Mozambique which led to Operation Rachel in 1995 – and during our heritage tour we were set to visit his birthplace and the Mandela Museum in Mthatha.
First, we would enjoy a leisurely drive to Morgan Bay, about 90 km from Buffalo City. I was pleasantly surprised by all the development in the area. Since I last visited some while ago, all the dirt roads have been tarred and the seaside resort looked pristine and well-kept. We stayed at the Mitford Hotel, situated less than 100 meters from the sea; our room had an unimpeded view over the bay. After breakfast the next morning, we exited the town direction Kei Mouth, and soon hit a badly corrugated, potholed road.we selected four-wheel drive via the controller on the centre console and the KBS easily negotiated the ruts, never faltering even on quite steep inclines. Soon, we arrived at Kei Mouth, but the tide was too low, meaning we could not cross the river by ferry. A pity, really, as the drive is quite spectacular once you crossed the river.
Plan B meant taking the N2 towards Mthatha, passing Qunu, where Madiba was buried, and the village Mvezo, his birthplace, on the way. The memorial and museum in Qunu was unfortunately closed due to renovations, but the displays in the museum in the sprawling Mthatha more than made up for it.
HERITAGE VILLAGE
After the museum visit, the convoy made its way to the new Mayfair Hotel in the town centre, our abode for two nights. The next morning, on Heritage Day, the Isuzu armada made its way via twisty dirt roads over hilltops and through valleys, with multi-coloured huts and buildings dotting the landscape, towards Coffee Bay.
The biggest danger was stray animals on the road (and missing unmarked turnoffs), but all the vehicles made it unscathed to the picturesque epicentre of the Wild Coast. After enjoying some refreshments, we walked to the nearby Heritage Village where a guide explained some of the Xhosa customs and aspect of their cultural
And yes, it did involve drinking Umqombothi, beer made from fermented maize and sorghum, and trying some Umngqusho, made from white maize and sugar beans.
heritage to us. And yes, it did involve drinking Umqombothi, beer made from fermented maize and sorghum, and trying some Umngqusho, made from white maize and sugar beans.
After a brisk walk back towards the KBS, the convoy departed for the Hole in the Wall, or esikhaleni (Place of Noise). Here we had lunch before returning to Mthatha and the Mayfair after a long, yet interesting heritage filled day. That evening we had traditional Xhosa dishes on the menu, and after a night of great entertainment and much laughter, we headed for bed.
The Isuzus were great companions on our heritage tour, and again impressed with their sturdiness and good ride quality over bad road surfaces – reinforcing its positioning as a tough and reliable vehicle offered at a reasonable price. One thing is for sure: Isuzu is here to stay.