IN the face of daily pressures and fast-paced living, a group of men turned to off-road motorsport as a way to break free from stress and reclaim a sense of adventure.
What began as a shared passion for rugged terrain and powerful machines has evolved into a full-fledged sport—designed not just for competition, but as a way to disconnect from everyday worries.
Through mud, dust and adrenaline-fueled rides, these enthusiasts have created a space where speed meets serenity, proving that sometimes, the best way to clear the mind is to hit the dirt.
They are known as the Nguni-Off-Road, which has now been registered as an NPO.
Speaking to Cartrends, the Nguni-Off-Roaders said this concept came to them during the Covid 19 pandemic.
“That’s when life was very tough on everyone and as men, we needed something that will clear our mind,” said Nguni-Off-Road Deputy Chairperson, Lucky Mbuyazi.
He said off-roading became their number one sporting code as many of them owned bakkies.
They looked for the right channels where they could perform their activities and Dr Thokozani Mabaso of Ngodini Bunduz opened his yard for them.
“We would drive there and do our thing. It really took off stress from us. Anyone could see that the guys were happy,” said Mbuyazi.
He said through social media, their sport drew a lot of attention very quickly.
That’s when most people started noticing bakkies on social media including the likes of uNogwaja, a nickname for an Izusu Bakkie that’s part of the Nguni-Off-Road.
People loved what they were seeing.
It’s something that had been there but was never that much into black people.
That’s when many developed interest and joined, some even started their own off-roading clubs inspired by the Nguni-Off-Road.
This led to the growth of the NPO.
Off-road lovers came from different provinces to join, which led the gaming to change its focus. Instead of doing their sport in one place, they started circulating to different provinces including Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Eastern Cape.
It was during those rounds when they realised how difficult life was for people in the communities they drive-by.
They came up with an idea to assist where they could.
And so, they would, without a sponsor, put money together and support a certain occasion.
As we speak, they have already visited more than five schools, helping by buying school uniform and food for the kids.
They also visit hospitals and buy gifts for the sick, just to encourage them to put in a fight for their health.
For now, there’s no sponsor for the Nguni-off-road NPO but it’s clear that if they can get one, they could do wonders.
“We could definitely do more with a sponsor. There are people who sleep in falling houses, we could build for them. There are children who want to further their studies but can’t because of financial constraints, we could help. We could actually help anyone who needs help because we are on the ground and are easily accessible,” said Mbuyazi.
When their event is to take place, they announce on their social platforms and on the day of the event, you will see a convoy of bakkies passing by.
People would be seen taking pictures and videos of the beautiful convoy.
Mbuyazi told Cartrends that this started as something small but it has grown to be so big and appreciated.
“We now have between 500 to 600 active members,” he said.
He added that joining the club is easy.
“You just come with your 4×4 bakkie and request to join,” he said.
However, there’s a simple criteria to follow to prove your commitment before you are recognised as a full member.
Nguni-Off-Road events organiser Nzuzo Mthethwa said what they wanted to do was to bring back the spirit of Ubuntu.
“We want to instill it in people’s mind and heart that it’s important to help one another. Don’t rejoice seeing your neighbour sleep hungry, do something about that situation if you can,” he said.
He said apart from helping communities, when they are together as men, they engage in positive conversations about challenges men face.
They talk about gender based violence (GBV) and ways to stop it.
“Naturally, men do not want to speak about their problems, so when we are together, we break that silence. We motivate each other about life in general and encourage one another to do better,” he told Cartrends.
He said they wanted to see a South Africa that is abuse free and that have people who can sympathise with one another.
Their next event will be on the 29th of March in Richards Bay, KZN. It will be followed by another in Benoni, Johannesburg on the 5th of April.
Mthethwa explained to Cartrends that their gaming is safe.
“Before we put cars into a river or water, our qualified experts inspect first,” he said.
He added that even the mountain, they do not just climb. Their experts would inspect it first, even if they last climbed it last week.
Moreover, training is provided to their off-roaders to avoid any casualties.
People can follow the Nguni-Off-Road NPO on their social media pages.
You can also tune in to Cartrends to see more news on them as we will be following their motorsport to keep you informed.
Related stories: Best Selling bakkies as of January 2025.
Photo sources: Nguni-Off-Road and IShootcars ZA
