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IN PICTURES | Inside the ranks of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club SA

Members of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club live by their own set of rules. These intimate portraits provide a rare glimpse into their hard-riding and little known lifestyle

16 December 2018 - 00:13
By Alon Skuy
National president of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club SA, Mark Groenewald, and national shepard, Darryl Hall, pray before the club's National Run to Durban. They rode with precision and discipline to the coast.
Image: Alon Skuy National president of the Crusaders Motorcycle Club SA, Mark Groenewald, and national shepard, Darryl Hall, pray before the club's National Run to Durban. They rode with precision and discipline to the coast.

Formed in 2006, the close-knit Crusaders Motorcycle Club (MC) SA has close to 1,000 members and more than 25 chapters across SA. They are “1 % ers ”, a reference to a comment once made by the American Motorcyclist Association “that 99% of motorcyclists [are] lawabiding citizens” and the remaining 1% “outlaws ”.

The ethos of the club is brotherhood, discipline, respect and a helping hand. The Crusaders MC SA motto: “See everything, hear everything, say nothing.”

Through these intimate portraits, photographer Alon Skuy gives a rare glimpse into the hard-riding and little known lifestyle of those who live by their own set of rules.

THE CLUB'S ANNUAL NATIONAL RUN TO DURBAN

A large group of Crusader MC members ride to a day event in Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy A large group of Crusader MC members ride to a day event in Durban.
Members of the Crusaders MC are seen on their annual National Run to Durban. Once they've arrived at the coast, the club hosts a special dinner to celebrate their achievements.
Image: Alon Skuy Members of the Crusaders MC are seen on their annual National Run to Durban. Once they've arrived at the coast, the club hosts a special dinner to celebrate their achievements.
A prospect with the Bandits on the open road in Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy A prospect with the Bandits on the open road in Durban.
National president of Crusaders MC, Mark Groenewald, poses for a picture in KwaZulu-Natal.
Image: Alon Skuy National president of Crusaders MC, Mark Groenewald, poses for a picture in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Crusaders MC booked out the Elangeni Hotel on the Durban beachfront to host a special dinner as part of their annual National Run to the coast.
Image: Alon Skuy The Crusaders MC booked out the Elangeni Hotel on the Durban beachfront to host a special dinner as part of their annual National Run to the coast.
Members of the Bandits chat on the beach during their National Run to Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy Members of the Bandits chat on the beach during their National Run to Durban.
Members of the Crusaders MC at an event in KwaZulu-Natal during the club's National Run to Durban.
Image: Alon Skuy Members of the Crusaders MC at an event in KwaZulu-Natal during the club's National Run to Durban.
A member of the Crusaders MC dances on stage while a man sings at a beach bar.
Image: Alon Skuy A member of the Crusaders MC dances on stage while a man sings at a beach bar.
Jacques Viljoen from the Nomads chapter arrives in Durban after the long ride down.
Image: Alon Skuy Jacques Viljoen from the Nomads chapter arrives in Durban after the long ride down.
Member of The Bandits Chapter enjoys the open road.
Image: Alon Skuy Member of The Bandits Chapter enjoys the open road.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE BIKERS

Cowboy, one of the original members of the Crusaders MC, gets ready to ride his bike.
Image: Alon Skuy Cowboy, one of the original members of the Crusaders MC, gets ready to ride his bike.
Nick Rabie from the Nomads Chapter of the Crusaders MC sometimes wears a custom-made glass eye with a 1% logo engraved on it.
Image: Alon Skuy Nick Rabie from the Nomads Chapter of the Crusaders MC sometimes wears a custom-made glass eye with a 1% logo engraved on it.
TeeBone from the Joburg Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Image: Alon Skuy TeeBone from the Joburg Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Image: Alon Skuy Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC.
Boxing coach Ashley Fourie is a ’prospect’ with the Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC. A prospect is someone who’s working towards full membership, which can take up to a year
Image: Alon Skuy Boxing coach Ashley Fourie is a ’prospect’ with the Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC. A prospect is someone who’s working towards full membership, which can take up to a year

MOURNING THE LOSS OF A CLUB PRESIDENT

Rocky Wainstein 'The Godfather’, founder and first president of the Crusaders MC SA, carries the coffin of the second president of the club, legendary boxing trainer Nick Durandt.
Image: Alon Skuy Rocky Wainstein 'The Godfather’, founder and first president of the Crusaders MC SA, carries the coffin of the second president of the club, legendary boxing trainer Nick Durandt.
Meatloaf pays his respects at the memorial service of legendary boxing trainer and second president of the club, Nick Durandt.
Image: Alon Skuy Meatloaf pays his respects at the memorial service of legendary boxing trainer and second president of the club, Nick Durandt.
Mikey Shultz, Faizel Smith and Damien Durandt console each other after the hearse, carrying Nick Durandt, departs.
Image: Alon Skuy Mikey Shultz, Faizel Smith and Damien Durandt console each other after the hearse, carrying Nick Durandt, departs.
A biker creates smoke after the hearse carrying Nick Durandt departs.
Image: Alon Skuy A biker creates smoke after the hearse carrying Nick Durandt departs.

CLUB EVENTS CAN BE A FAMILY AFFAIR

Kids play at a charity day sponsored by the Babarayaans Chapter of the Crusaders MC at their club house on the East Rand. The club raised over R500k for charity in 2018 and is passionate about giving back to the community. Theo Kloppers, the president of The Chapter gives a lot of his time to do charity work.
Image: Alon Skuy Kids play at a charity day sponsored by the Babarayaans Chapter of the Crusaders MC at their club house on the East Rand. The club raised over R500k for charity in 2018 and is passionate about giving back to the community. Theo Kloppers, the president of The Chapter gives a lot of his time to do charity work.
The Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosted an end-of-year family day.
Image: Alon Skuy The Regiment Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosted an end-of-year family day.
The West Side Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosts a camping trip in Villiers. Activities included a mechanical bull riding competition.
Image: Alon Skuy The West Side Chapter of the Crusaders MC hosts a camping trip in Villiers. Activities included a mechanical bull riding competition.
Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC has some fun on a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Image: Alon Skuy Butch from the Sin City Chapter of the Crusaders MC has some fun on a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Wrestlers entertain the crowd at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Image: Alon Skuy Wrestlers entertain the crowd at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
A member of Vaal Side Chapter of the Crusaders partakes in a pellet gun shooting competition during a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Image: Alon Skuy A member of Vaal Side Chapter of the Crusaders partakes in a pellet gun shooting competition during a camping trip in Villiers, which was hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Members of The Vaal Side Chapter partake in a tug of war at a weekend hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Image: Alon Skuy Members of The Vaal Side Chapter partake in a tug of war at a weekend hosted by the West Side Chapter.
Poppy Day event held in Brakpan pays tribute to fallen soldiers.
Image: Alon Skuy Poppy Day event held in Brakpan pays tribute to fallen soldiers.
A woman wipes a tear from a relative after the Poppy Day memorial service. The day was attended by bikers from different crews.
Image: Alon Skuy A woman wipes a tear from a relative after the Poppy Day memorial service. The day was attended by bikers from different crews.
A couple share a kiss at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Image: Alon Skuy A couple share a kiss at a Crusaders MC braai day held at Presleys in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
A ride led by The Hells Angels to a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg.
Image: Alon Skuy A ride led by The Hells Angels to a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg.
A family are photographed leaving a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg. The Regiment Chapter went to great effort to honour fallen soldiers.
Image: Alon Skuy A family are photographed leaving a Poppy Day event in Brakpan, Johannesburg. The Regiment Chapter went to great effort to honour fallen soldiers.
Two members of The Crusaders enjoy the road.
Image: Alon Skuy Two members of The Crusaders enjoy the road.

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