The protocols followed by South African biking communities when a new club or chapter wants to start up — drafted and maintained by the Motorcyclist Association of the Western Cape (MAWC) and the Western Cape Presidents Meet (WCPM), and used as the reference standard nationally.
The following protocols, rules and guidelines were accepted by both MAWC and the WCPM as applicable to new clubs, new club chapters and anyone wanting to start a club in the Western Cape. It is important for anybody wanting to start a new club or club chapter to first understand all the protocols and rules, so as to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
A special Bikers Task Team was founded to manage the implementation of these protocols by guiding and educating proposed new clubs. The Task Team operates as an independent body under the auspices of MAWC and the WCPM (G2G) as a joint initiative to regulate, educate and screen new club applications, and is the only body empowered to deal with new club applications. No new club may start off as an MC.
It is highly recommended that anyone intending to start a new club first consider riding or socializing with an existing club in their area, in order to familiarize themselves with local protocols and behaviours.
Any person leaving a club has to wait for a given period before joining another club, or before starting a new club or opening a new chapter on behalf of an existing club — irrespective of the existing club's own rules. Clubs with several chapters normally stipulate a cooling-off period in their constitution for members moving between chapters, but the local Governing Council/Body's determination takes precedence.
In the Western Cape, the cooling-off period is a minimum of six months, applicable in all situations bar two exceptions:
In both cases, the original club or chapter ceases to exist.
A person is considered to be in bad standing when, through their actions, they show total disrespect to their club, dishonour club members, or bring the biking community into disrespect with the general public. This is a status that should be very carefully considered before being applied. A person found to be in bad standing will be disavowed by the biking community and not allowed to join another club, start a new club, or participate in any biking-related events. The status is normally for life, and only the club that initiated it can lift or change it.
The period involved in starting a new club is 24 months, split into two phases: the Application and Registration period (3 months) and the Approval and Probation period (21 months).
Starting a new chapter is a recognized way of expanding a club's membership base. No new chapter may open in the Western Cape unless sanctioned by the Task Team, irrespective of the club's own constitution.
Two methods are distinguished: a new chapter formed with existing full-patch members of the mother club, or a new chapter with new prospect members. Any club wishing to open a new chapter must inform the local Governing Body and the Task Team of their intention before taking any steps, with a fully motivated proposal presented for consideration. No club not registered on the national Register may open a new chapter.
Any individual, club or chapter not complying with the protocols is considered in breach. Where a breach is found, the individual/club/chapter's full particulars are published and made available to all existing clubs in the Western Cape. A club or individual found in breach will not be acknowledged and will be automatically blacklisted — prevented from attending any biking events in the Western Cape until they comply.
Where an existing club wants to change its status, written application must be made to the Task Team, who will consider all relevant criteria and protocols. A club wishing to become an MC must have existed and been active for five years (excluding the 12-month probation period), and must present letters of recommendation from three existing, recognized MCs, together with proof it meets the minimum MC criteria — the final decision rests with the Task Team. A status upgrade will not be unreasonably denied once all criteria are satisfied. The Task Team may also downgrade a club that fails to maintain the criteria for its status, after affording a reasonable time to conform. All status changes must be relayed to the local governing body and reflected on the national register.
A dormant club is one that has become temporarily inactive for any reason — not enough members, personal or work circumstances, etc. — as distinct from a "dead club," one that has become totally inactive and is considered to have ceased to exist. A dormant club can be made active again at any time within the 24-month period, provided it is reactivated by the same members who made it dormant and it complies with the protocols.
A club is considered to automatically cease to exist where it has been dormant for 24 months or longer, where members patch over to another club, where members decide to disband, or where the Task Team and local Governing Body jointly close it down as detrimental to the local biking community. A "dead club" (other than one formally closed down) can be revived, but is treated the same as a brand-new club under the full protocols. Where a club is judged dormant or dead, its registration remains on the Register with an indication of its status.
The Task Team is mandated to operate as an empowered body dealing with the whole process of establishing and maintaining new clubs and chapters within its region, and to ensure new and existing clubs conform to protocol — including club name, patch design, slogans and membership matters. It monitors new clubs from application through to the end of probation, and has full authority to impose sanctions on those who refuse to follow protocol.
Contact: info@wcbtaskteam.co.za
Where there is a conflict between these protocols and the constitution or rules of the local governing body, the protocols take precedence until the local constitution can be amended to match — including in respect of probation time periods for new chapters.
A group joined together by common interests, beliefs and virtues to preserve the excellence of their fraternity and community — such as law enforcement, military, fire fighting, or religion/ministry.
