Husqvarna South Africa donates two Husqvarna TC 50 motorcycles to Team Zonke, strengthening a performance pathway rooted in restoring agency, building identity, and enabling belonging.
The Maletsatsi Foundation today announced a significant contribution from Husqvarna South Africa: two brand-new Husqvarna TC 50 motorcycles, donated to the Foundation’s Team Zonke programme. The motorcycles will directly support some of Team Zonke’s youngest riders as they begin their progression pathways, children who, in many cases, are taking their first steps toward something that is entirely and powerfully their own.
Team Zonke is the sports and motorsport arm of The Maletsatsi Foundation, using off- road motorcycling as a structured, purposeful programme to support confidence, self- regulation, and identity development in children living in alternative care. Through consistent training, mentorship, and competition, children discover what they are capable of, often for the first time.
“Most people agree that vulnerable children deserve safety,” says Tiffini Hein, Founder of The Maletsatsi Foundation. “Fewer invest in what comes after. Children deserve more than survival. They deserve opportunities to discover who they are, to challenge themselves, and to experience competence and pride. That is not a luxury. That is the point.”
A central element of Team Zonke’s model is the restoration of bodily autonomy for children who have experienced trauma, neglect, or loss of control. Riding a motorcycle demands presence, coordination, and active decision-making, creating a practical environment where children rebuild trust in their own bodies, often after extended periods in which that trust was taken from them.
“When a child who has had very little control over their own life climbs onto a motorcycle and rides, really rides, something shifts,” says Hein. “They stop waiting to be told what they’re capable of. They find out for themselves. On a bike, you are the variable. Your focus, your balance, your decision. For children who have had very little control over anything in their lives, that is not a small thing. It is everything.”
The model works. Team Zonke riders currently compete at regional and national level, with multiple podium finishes. These results are not incidental. They are the evidence of what structured investment in a child’s potential produces.
Husqvarna Motorcycles, part of the KTM Group and one of Europe’s leading high- performance motorcycle manufacturers, brings a legacy of precision engineering and competitive excellence. That same commitment to performance aligns closely with the ethos of Team Zonke: that standards matter, that progression is earned, and that children in alternative care are entirely capable of both.
“As Husqvarna Motorcycles South Africa, we are incredibly proud to be associated with the Zonke Racing Team and the inspiring work they are doing for these children. Seeing the passion, confidence, and determination that the team is helping build through racing is truly special.
Being able to contribute by sponsoring two Husqvarna TC50 motorcycles is more than just supporting racing — it is about investing in young lives, creating opportunities, and helping these kids believe in themselves and their potential.
The Zonke Racing Team represents the true spirit of community, passion, and perseverance, and we are honoured to be part of their journey. We look forward to seeing these young riders grow both on and off the track,” says Megan Prinsloo, Marketing Manager at Husqvarna South Africa.
The introduction of the two Husqvarna TC 50 motorcycles enables younger riders to enter the programme in a safe, structured, and developmentally appropriate way. Participation is not defined by access alone. It is defined by progression, consistency, and measurable growth. For these children, that distinction matters enormously.
“Motorsport is an extraordinary teacher, but not in the way most people expect,” Hein adds. “It doesn’t just teach you to ride. It teaches you that your body is yours, that your decisions matter, and that when you fall, getting back up is a choice you make. Those are lessons that carry into every part of life.”
Sustaining a programme of this nature requires ongoing investment. The cost of participation, motorcycles, safety gear, training, maintenance, and travel, is significant, and it compounds with every rider who progresses. Sustaining one rider through a full national competition season runs into tens of thousands of rands. Multiply that across a growing programme, and the gap between what these children deserve and what is currently funded becomes very clear.
Husqvarna South Africa’s contribution closes part of that gap. The Foundation is actively seeking partners to close the rest.
“This is what partnership looks like when it’s built on shared values rather than logo placement,” says Hein. “We are deeply grateful to Husqvarna Motorcycles South Africa for recognising the value of what we are building, and for choosing to be part of it. We are ready to have that conversation with whoever comes next.”
The Maletsatsi Foundation’s Ride for a Reason campaign exists because belief without investment is just sentiment. Husqvarna South Africa has moved from belief to action. The Foundation is looking for others ready to do the same.
About The Maletsatsi Foundation
The Maletsatsi Foundation is a Johannesburg-based child protection nonprofit (NPC No: 2020/257077/08 | NPO No: 254-968 | PBO No: 930070879 | Level 1 B-BBEE) providing family-based care, education, therapeutic support, and developmental opportunities for children in transitional and alternative care. The Foundation operates on a simple belief: that children in difficult circumstances deserve exceptional opportunities, not just adequate ones.
About Team Zonke
Team Zonke is the sports and motorsport arm of The Maletsatsi Foundation, using off- road motorcycling to help children in alternative care rediscover their bodies, build identity, and learn that progress is something they can earn.
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Author: Phindile Nxumalo from The Maletsatsi Foundation on behalf of The Maletsatsi Foundation.
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