THE ANNUAL Seven7 Drive for kids with cancer is set to take place this month, and Jameel Motors South Africa, Changan’s official importer and distributor, has raised its hand for this year’s adventure with the Changan Hunter F70 4WD Auto.
The Seven7 Drive is no ordinary road trip. Over its seven-day journey across South Africa, the initiative encounters a variety of terrains and conditions, including highways, traffic, gravel roads, potholes, livestock, pedestrians, rain, mud, wind and mountain passes – and, on occasion, even snow.
And this year, the nearly 7,000km journey will be tackled exclusively with double-cab bakkies.
Add a crew, equipment and care packages for more than 200 children at each hospital visit, and it becomes clear why a capable and practical vehicle is essential.
“We have done the Seven7 Drive in everything from front-wheel-drive SUVs to boxy crossovers to bakkies, and it’s the latter that stood out every time,” recalls Danie Botha, co-founder and Managing Director of the Seven7 Drive NPC.
Botha says the crew’s equipment, limited personal baggage and care packages make space one of the biggest requirements for the journey.
“Bakkies tick that box in every way, with the added benefits of better ground clearance for those parts of the route where the going gets a little bit tougher, and excellent comfort for when the fatigue kicks in.”
Heeding the call for participation, Jameel Motors South Africa was the first to raise its hand for this year’s adventure.
The company will enter the Changan Hunter F70 4WD Auto, a double-cab that is well suited to the demands of the journey while reflecting Changan’s focus on building vehicles designed to do more than simply get you from point A to point B.
“Jameel Motors is proud to participate in the 2026 Seven7 Drive because it combines two things we are deeply passionate about: connecting communities, and creating meaningful impact,” says Marinus Venter, Country Manager at Jameel Motors South Africa.
“As this extraordinary journey travels thousands of kilometres across South Africa, it shines a spotlight on the importance of early childhood cancer detection while raising much-needed funds to support families navigating the cancer journey.
“By supporting this initiative, we are not only showcasing the capability and reliability of our vehicles, but also contributing to a cause that brings hope, awareness and support to children and families affected by cancer,” adds Venter.
Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Hunter F70 produces 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque.
Its 226mm ground clearance, robust suspension and rear differential lock should also prove useful when the route moves away from smoother roads and onto more challenging terrain.
The Hunter F70 can also carry up to 1,100kg, providing ample capacity for the books, equipment and crew required throughout the initiative.
“It’s almost unthinkable that double-cab bakkies were once considered nothing more than a workhorse with extra seats. These bakkies have fully transcended that image to become one of the most aspirational forms of personal transport in South Africa, balancing the inherent practicality they offer their owners with comfort and convenience that often rival past luxury benchmarks in the passenger car market,” says Botha.
“Changan’s focus on building vehicles that inspire its owners to dream bigger and experience what is next, now, resonates with us and we are hugely excited about Jameel Motors’ participation in this year’s Seven7 Drive,” he adds.
“The Hunter F70 is a prime example of what double-cabs have become for South African consumers, combining strength, versatility and striking design into a package that offers exactly what it says on the box: toughness where it counts, refinement where it matters.”
The 2026 Seven7 Drive for kids with cancer is scheduled to depart from Steve Biko Academic Hospital in the City of Tshwane on 24 September 2026.
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