LDV South Africa have partnered with Ride4Hope as the organisation’s official transport partner for the next year. This collaboration will see LDV provide a fleet of powerful, premium and capable vehicles to support Ride4Hope’s community outreach initiatives.
This announcement was made at an event held in Johannesburg last week when The Nelson Mandela Foundation officially launched the 2026 edition of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Ride4Hope.
Ride4Hope is a South African non-profit organisation, established in 2018, which focuses on creating positive social impact through cycling. Mandated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Ride4Hope uses cycling as a platform to raise funds and create lasting community impact. The partnership, which officially runs from May 2026 to May 2027, will support the transportation of participants, support teams, equipment and event personnel throughout the campaign. The highlight of the campaign, the Legacy Ride4Hope Tour, sees a multi-day cycling journey along a symbolic route linked to Nelson Mandela’s legacy while raising funds for the #Classrooms4Hope initiative and other community projects.
As the official transport partner, LDV will provide the vehicles that power key Legacy Ride4Hope activations, including the Nelson Mandela Day Commemoration Ride in July and the broader Legacy Ride4Hope Tour. The partnership will focus primarily on logistics, with LDV vehicles supporting planning and operational requirements, as well as transporting equipment, supplies and other essential materials throughout the tour.
While relatively new to the South African market, LDV is a brand with a rich heritage dating back to 1896 in the United Kingdom. Today, it forms part of the global automotive group SAIC Motor, headquartered in China. The brand launched locally in 2024 and has since expanded its range of utility, commercial and SUV models, supported by a steadily growing dealership network.
“Supporting Legacy Ride for Hope was a natural decision. For us, giving back to communities is important from the very beginning,” Gerhard Moolman, CEO of LDV South Africa said at the launch event, noting that he had been involved with the initiative for many years before being appointed CEO of LDV South Africa. “Having visited the schools supported by the initiative, I’ve seen first-hand what it means.
It’s an initiative that is very close to my heart, and it’s something I want to remain part of for many years to come. For us, Legacy Ride for Hope is simply a platform we cannot afford not to support”.
At the launch event, Luthando Kaka, Event Director of the Legacy Ride4Hope, said that the initiative is driven by passionate, like-minded people who have come together to harness the power of the cycling community to create lasting change. “Our riders continue to tell our story, inspire others and encourage new partners to become involved. Together, we’ve shown that sport can achieve far more than athletic performance alone, it can change lives and strengthen communities”.
“From the outset, the Nelson Mandela Foundation believed in what we were trying to achieve. Their partnership has enabled us to touch many lives and make the impact we have today. We remain incredibly grateful for that support and for the riders who continue to take on the challenge each year to make a difference in the communities and schools along the route,” says
This year’s Nelson Mandela Legacy Ride4Hope Tour takes place between 2-5 September 2026 and marks the first time the event will start outside South Africa, with participants cycling from Maputo to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, just outside of Howick in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Along the route, cyclists will engage with local communities, visit beneficiary schools, participate in handover and renovation projects, and help raise awareness and funding for education-focused initiatives.
Over the years, this tour has helped build and renovate classrooms, establish computer labs and improve educational facilities at under-resourced schools.
Kaka says that the partnership will play a vital role in enhancing the organisation’s impact while helping to deliver a world-class experience for participants and stakeholders.
