Marieclairvoyant

In an age when everything from lap-dancing to lacy underwear is deemed ‘empowering’, Seipei Mashugane is that rarest of things. A woman who talks about empowerment, and really means it. Last year she rode through nine provinces in nine days, and raised R350,000 for POWA (People Opposing Women Abuse) in the process. This month, she’s set to reprise her nine-province ride, setting off on the 9th August – National Women’s Day.
Whether she’s defending model Joelle Kayembe in her weekly Citizen column, or sounding off about the right to choose on breakfast TV, Seipei is all about helping South African women help themselves. So what’s next for the first lady of fundraising? ‘I’m in the process of getting my charity, The Biker Queen Foundation, registered. Once that’s done, I’m going to be using the funds to go out into the community, and educate young girls. I want to offer free testing, advice, treatments. Ultimately, I want the money to be used to empower young women.’
Seipei will be making an appearance at the Artscape Women’s Festival in Cape Town (5-8 August), where she’ll be talking about young womanhood – drawing on her own experiences, and spreading the word on her next nine province ride. ‘This ride’s all about the right to choose. And I don’t just mean abortion – although that’s hugely important in its own right – but also the right to get tested, the right to take ownership of your body, the right to choose your sexual destiny. Everybody should be able to stand up and say “I’m pro-choice and proud”’. After her epic ride Harley Davidson Johannesburg will be donating a brand new bike to be raffled to raise money for the foundation.
Catch Seipei at the Artscape Women’s Festival on 5 August, then every day on ETV from 9-17 August.To find out more about her nine-province ride, go to www.bikerqueen.co.za. Or follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/seipei.