Three of Pietermaritzburg’s rising BMX stars have secured top spots in the National BMX Cup that is made up of six legs spanning across three provinces throughout the year, with riders required to compete in at least four to qualify. Dylan Martin, Emily Eloff and Nehemiah Kitaba all finished top of their categories, proudly flying the flag for their club and city. For Nehemiah, this year’s title marks another milestone in a journey that began when he simply thought BMX “looked cool”.
Hard work, he said, made this victory especially meaningful. “It means a lot because I put a lot of work and effort into BMX,” he said. “It makes me happy to win.” This is not Nehemiah’s first national ranking, he previously claimed the top spot in 2022.
He credits his father, James Kitaba, as his biggest motivator. “My dad supports me, helps me understand my faults and encourages me to try new things,” he said. Kitaba described watching his son succeed as “exciting and emotional”, recalling a standout moment from 2021 in Hermanus when Nehemiah “picked up the pace the second he sensed a challenger”.
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Nehemiah now aims to compete at the 2026 Australian BMX World Championships, focusing on improving his gate starts, speed and lap times. Emily celebrated her third straight national cup victory — a remarkable achievement for the young rider who says she simply loves being on her bike. “Wanting to keep my SA No.
1 title keeps me focused,” she said. “You must keep training if you want to win, even in the rain or after a long day at school.” Backed strongly by her family, Emily has set her sights on defending her title again in 2026 and earning KwaZulu-Natal colours. Dylan (15) secured his maiden national title after narrowly missing out in previous years.
“This is my first national Cup number one,” he said. “I now understand that every single race counts.”
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