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Promising cyclist killed
08/08/2000 08:32 - (SA)
Wynand de Villiers
Johannesburg - South African cycling has been hit hard by the news that the West Rand cyclist, Raymond Motswane, who was on the verge of a professional contract in the sport, was killed by a mini-bus taxi in Westonaria on Monday morning.
Motswane was on his way to work. Every day he rode the approximately 50km by bicycle from Randfontein to the Leeudoring Gold Mine in Westonaria where he worked in the human resources department.
"After I was told I hurried to the scene," said David Mngadi, Motswane's department head. "He was already dead."
According to eye witnesses a taxi overtook a truck and hit Raymond. The taxi drove away.
"Luckily a motorist stopped and directed the traffic to the side of the road. Raymond's body lay in the middle of the road with his bicycle on one side," said Mngadi.
Motswane was a member of the i'fusion development team and was offered a contract last month to join the well-known IBM/Lotus professional team next year.
"I'm devastated," said an upset Douglas Ryder on Monday. Ryder is the captain of the IBM/Lotus team and also South Africa's tour cycling captain.
"He was a totally dedicated rider. He would even sleep in a tent at the start of a race so that he could ride the next day."
"He asked me on Sunday for a cycling jacket, because he got cold in the morning on his bike. I would have given it to him this week," said Ryder.
Mr BB Makalima, chairman of the Soweto Cycling Association said on Monday that Motswane was an example to thousands of young black cyclists and his death has left a great void.
Makalima appealed to the government to bring in stricter road rules to protect cyclists. "It's about time that motorists respected cyclists on the road," he said. - News24
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