MOTH and MMA FAQ's

About the MOTH:

What is the MOTH?

The Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH) is an independent brotherhood of ex-service and service men and women who have served their country in the armed services in an active theatre of operation. It is based on concord and harmony and operates independently of race, religion or politics in order to maintain the living spirit of front-line comradeship and to protect and advance the interest of war veterans and their families

The MOTH is not: 

- A WW2 VETERANS CLUB 

It is open to returned personnel of all vintages who had served their country in recognised armed services operations.

- A SERVICE CLUB 

The only similarity is that MOTH members once served in the armed services.

- AN EXTENSION OF THE SANDF 

The MOTH is an independent civilian organisation. 

- A DRINKING CLUB 

DRINKING DURING MEETINGS IS NOT PERMITTED. However, respectable socializing afterwards is customary. 

- A WAR REMINISCING CLUB 

Many other activities take place, but stories of the good old days will always improve camaraderie.

Eligibility for Membership: 

Qualification for membership of the MMA is set out in the Constitution & General Standing Orders. If what you have read has been of interest to you and you qualify for membership of the MMA in terms of the extract from its eligibility clauses quoted below, why not contact us at the address given at the end of this leaflet? We look forward to making your acquaintance. 

Qualification for membership: 

Subject in all cases to the production to MOTH General Headquarters of satisfactory documentary proof of active service, prospects are eligible for membership of the MMA who satisfy the following: 

1. Membership will only be considered once the applicant has been in the MOTH for at least six months.
2. Applicants must be in possession of a valid motorcycle licence. 
3. Applicants must be the owner of a licensed motorcycle over 400cc.
4. Any prospective applicant, who has duly handed in a complete and approved membership application form, must attend at least six general meetings of the MMA before being inducted. 

Dress Code: 

The dress code of the MOTH Motorcycle Association members, and friends of the MOTH Motorcycle Association, is governed by the following: 

1. Derogatory, offensive, inflammatory, crude, obscene, vulgar, or indecent badges whether cloth, metal or otherwise are not permitted on any part of the official MMA waistcoat or dress.

2. No South African flag issued before 1994 is permitted on any part of the official MMA waistcoat or dress.

3. No badges depicting any political party whatsoever may be displayed on any part of the official MMA waistcoat or dress.

4. The official “Colours” always remains the property of the MMA Cape Town and are to be returned to the MMA by any member leaving for any reason. 

REACH YOUR MOTH / MMA OVERBERG CHAPTER CONTACT: 

Llewellyn: +27 83 3771729 

Shaun: +27 83 2304400

Leon: +27 76 1641740

George: +27 28 3121888

Norman: +27 60 8249994

And, what else?

Origin - In 1927 Charles Alfred Evenden, a WWI Veteran, founded the Order. It is based on concord and harmony and operates in the same way as front-line service, but with full democracy. 

Ideals & Objects 

Its ideals are to maintain the living spirit of front-line comradeship through: 

True Comradeship (TC) - By practising front-line friendship in civilian life.

Mutual Help (MH) - By acknowledging the personal and collective obligation to help each other as in front-line service. 

Sound Memory (SM) - By remembering the Fallen as a living companionship to serve their memory in practical actions which rise above divisions of social status, race and politics. 

Its objectives are to protect and advance the interests of war veterans and their families, by carrying out benevolent activities of an ex-service character. 

Emblem 

The Moth emblem is a Tin Hat surmounted by a lighted candle, flanked by reversed crossed rifles and surrounded by twelve stars contained within a circle, where: The tin hat is the centre of the Order; The lighted candle is the light of service; reversed crossed rifles signify sacrifice; twelve stars signify mutual help, and an unending circle expressing life and harmony without end.

About the MMA 

The primary objectives of the MMA Cape Town are: 

The recruitment of new Moths into the Order regardless of whether they qualify for MMA membership or not. This is the prime function and should be held in high priority in all endeavours. 

Secondly, fundraising activities in line with the specific requirements of clause 2.3 of the MOTH Constitution. 

Whilst the Order is a voluntary organization, more so the MMA is an association of Moths and Friends with a common interest in the biker Brotherhood. It is this common interest that binds the group and motivates the interaction between members through social and benevolent events. 

The MMA OVERBERG is subservient to the MOTH and its policies are democratically determined at Provincial general meetings, representing the interests of all its members. 

Regular meetings are held by MMA members in their Districts or Chapters. Whilst fund-raising constitutes a major portion of the time, recruitment for the Order remains the prime function. 

Is the MMA for me? If you are interested in joining our exclusive organisation, ask not what it can do for you but what you can do for the MMA and the MOTH. You will need to demonstrate brotherhood and not material achievements to obtain acceptance in your Chapter.