<p>Cape Town: As Sindile Mavundla guided young girls on their bikes through a street in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township, he said he had one goal: to get more of them into cycling.</p><p>Known as Cape Town's "Bicycle Mayor", Mavundla, 34, has been a leading figure in promoting the culture of cycling in the South African city. He teaches first-time riders how to ride a bike, including young girls in impoverished communities where opportunities are hard to come by, through his Khaltsha Cycling Academy.</p><p>"Majority of girls in the township, they are not given much sport options. And we've always seen that bicycle has the potential of changing lives," he said.</p><p>Some of the academy's students used to have to walk kilometres (miles) to get to school.</p>.South Africa's deputy president 'ok' after collapsing during speech.<p>"It's very rare to see girls cycling. I saw an opportunity of a lifetime. Girls cycling here in Khayelitsha is one of the best things," said academy member Iviwe Yako.</p><p>Located around 30 km (20 miles) from the city centre, Khayelitsha - the largest shantytown in Cape Town - is a sea of dilapidated wood, iron and concrete shacks, in sharp contrast to the city's leafy and affluent suburbs.</p><p>The title "bicycle mayor" is bestowed by Amsterdam-based global cycling advocacy group Bycs, which also has mayors in other African cities including Nairobi, Gaborone, Lagos and Abuja.</p><p>The academy has 30 members and was started in 2022. Mavundla said its work has seen an influx of other girls who wanted to learn cycling.</p><p>Amid cheers from her classmates, a girl tried to ride a bicycle for the first time before fumbling and falling flat on the floor.</p><p>Mavundla helped her get back on her feet and said: "You are almost there. Now push hard."</p><p>His reassuring words appeared to help, as the girl then successfully mounted her bike and cycled past her clapping friends, before halting to a stop with her hands aloft in joy. </p>
<p>Cape Town: As Sindile Mavundla guided young girls on their bikes through a street in Cape Town's Khayelitsha township, he said he had one goal: to get more of them into cycling.</p><p>Known as Cape Town's "Bicycle Mayor", Mavundla, 34, has been a leading figure in promoting the culture of cycling in the South African city. He teaches first-time riders how to ride a bike, including young girls in impoverished communities where opportunities are hard to come by, through his Khaltsha Cycling Academy.</p><p>"Majority of girls in the township, they are not given much sport options. And we've always seen that bicycle has the potential of changing lives," he said.</p><p>Some of the academy's students used to have to walk kilometres (miles) to get to school.</p>.South Africa's deputy president 'ok' after collapsing during speech.<p>"It's very rare to see girls cycling. I saw an opportunity of a lifetime. Girls cycling here in Khayelitsha is one of the best things," said academy member Iviwe Yako.</p><p>Located around 30 km (20 miles) from the city centre, Khayelitsha - the largest shantytown in Cape Town - is a sea of dilapidated wood, iron and concrete shacks, in sharp contrast to the city's leafy and affluent suburbs.</p><p>The title "bicycle mayor" is bestowed by Amsterdam-based global cycling advocacy group Bycs, which also has mayors in other African cities including Nairobi, Gaborone, Lagos and Abuja.</p><p>The academy has 30 members and was started in 2022. Mavundla said its work has seen an influx of other girls who wanted to learn cycling.</p><p>Amid cheers from her classmates, a girl tried to ride a bicycle for the first time before fumbling and falling flat on the floor.</p><p>Mavundla helped her get back on her feet and said: "You are almost there. Now push hard."</p><p>His reassuring words appeared to help, as the girl then successfully mounted her bike and cycled past her clapping friends, before halting to a stop with her hands aloft in joy. </p>