Despite the cold weather in Vhembe the past weekend, the Venda Khartel and Jeep Nation still managed to host a successful international Jeep Go Topless Day. 

Jeep Go Topless Day is an international celebration designated by Jeep drivers globally to mark the start of spring in the northern hemisphere and the end of the warm summer season in the southern hemisphere.

About 70 Jeeps of different makes and models arrived in Thohoyandou late Friday afternoon (19 May), coming from different South African provinces and neighbouring countries, such as Botswana and Lesotho.

On Saturday morning, Jeep Nation started the day with a kilometre-long convoy of Jeeps, driving from Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou for about 16 kilometres along the R524 road to the Unarine Day Care Centre for handicapped children in Tshianda, where they donated various items amounting to more than R50 000.

One of the coordinators of the Venda Khartel Jeep Club, Mr Thivhileli Makatu, said the items they donated were voluntary contributions from members, their business networks, and private corporates, and coordinated by individual Jeep clubs.

“Today we left Unarine in a better space to fulfil their mandate for accessible, equal and equitable education. Approximately R52 000 worth of goods were donated, including power tools for the woodwork workshop, household goods for the kitchen, school necessities and toys, dignity packs, and personal care items. The spin-off to our activities is immense; the local economy benefits; we eat and sleep at locally owned properties. As we enjoy the landscape gifted to us by our ancestors, we do it responsibly, immersing ourselves in local culture, the environment and nature, aimed at raising the tourism profile of the Vhembe District Municipality,” Makatu said. 

Mr Francis Mukovha, the deputy secretary of the Unarine Day Care Centre’s board, said they were overjoyed with the donation they had received. “We are very happy, and these donations will be very helpful. The learners pay for most of the things now and at least it will meet them halfway. We still need a lot of things and above all, we need a hall, sponge mattresses to sleep on, as most of the learners are always sleeping, and wheelchairs,” Mukosi said.

After their charity work was concluded, the Jeeps departed again from Tsianda village to the Thathe Vondo Sacred Forest via the Tshisahulu road, turning up to Duthuni, Phiphidi and on to the Tshirovha Waterfalls for off-roading, lunch and networking.