OUR STORY

The Legacy of Brotherhood and Adventure

🛠️ Rebuilding Brotherhood: The Breede River Chapter Rises Again 🛠️

2024 was a year of turbulence for Harley-Davidson South Africa. Amidst major business changes and the unbundling of regional structures, Chapters across the country faced uncertainty. In an effort to consolidate, it was decided to dissolve individual Chapters within the Western Cape and form a single entity. The impact was immediate and membership declined, riders drifted toward MC's or chose the path of solo riding.

But for us, the spirit of Breede River Chapter was never just about numbers. It was about identity, camaraderie, and the shared roar of Harley-Davidson engines echoing through the valleys and coastlines we call home.

At the close of 2024, we approached our local Dealership with a bold request: to revive Breede River Chapter. Not just for nostalgia, but to actively grow the Harley-Davidson brand and family in our region. That request was granted in early 2025 - and with just five committed members, we began the rebuild.

Now, as 2025 draws to a close, we stand 20 members strong. Each one brings passion, purpose, and pride to the patch. We're not just rebuilding - we're redefining what it means to ride together.

Here's to the road ahead. To the rallies, the laughter, the chrome, and the legacy. Breede River Chapter is back—and we're just getting started.

Our Leadership Team

Kobus Oosthuizen

Director

Gregory McCree

Ass. Director

Natasja Oosthuizen

Secretary

Galina Kharchenko

Activities Officer

Liesll Strauss

Ladies of Harley

Sandra Grobbelaar

Social Media

Manie Grobbelaar

Road Captain

THE LEGEND OF THE BREEDE RIVER

And the Spirit of the Steam boat

Where the Breede River meets the Indian Ocean, the land holds its breath. A treacherous sandbar guards the mouth, shifting with the tides like a living sentinel. On either side, sleepy villages bask in golden light — Witsand to the west, Infanta to the east and inland, Robertson wine valley — their charm belying the wild currents below. Bull sharks glide silently through the estuary, ancient and unseen, reminding all who pass that this place is no ordinary river mouth.

The Barry Family & The SS Kadie

In the mid-1800s, this region was a frontier — remote, rugged, and ripe with opportunity. Enter the Barry family, bold merchants based in Swellendam, who dared to tame the river's fury. They commissioned the SS Kadie, a steam-assisted sailing ship built in Scotland in 1859, uniquely designed to navigate the winding Breede and trade along the Overberg coast.

She was more than a vessel — she was a lifeline. She carried wool, brandy, and aloe juice from inland farms to distant ports. On one legendary voyage, she transported live ostriches to Mauritius, their long necks craning over crates as the ship steamed across the ocean. Her speed was unmatched: from Port Beaufort to Malgas in just two and a half hours, a feat that turned weeks of ox-wagon travel into a single afternoon.

The River Gives and Takes

But the river gives and takes. In 1865, she met her end on the rocks near Infanta, claimed by the very waters she once mastered. Her wreckage still whispers beneath the waves, a ghost of steam and sail.

Riding in Her Wake

Today, our rally rides in her wake — not on water, but on chrome and thunder. We honor her legacy: fearless exploration, camaraderie forged in challenge, and the thrill of discovering hidden places. We chart our own course, rallying through the Overberg's rolling hills, the vineyards of Robertson, and the wild beauty of the Breede.

This is more than a ride.

It's a tribute to the spirit of adventure that shaped this land.

Join Us on This Legendary Journey

Experience the spirit of the SS Kadie as we ride through the Overberg, celebrating adventure, brotherhood, and the legacy of those who dared to explore.