JMPD
JMPD officer Thabiso Makhetha completed the 947 Ride Joburg in 2 hours and 40 minutes, representing the City of Johannesburg’s campaign to promote cycling and road safety. The event featured major road closures and drew thousands of participants, with the Road Accident Fund calling for continued vigilance and responsible road use.
City of Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer Thabiso Makhetha achieved an impressive milestone by completing the 947 Ride Joburg road race in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 34 seconds.
The officer, who made his elite cycling debut at this year’s event, was celebrated for his performance and for representing the City as part of its campaign to promote cycling as a sustainable form of transport.
The 28th edition of the 947 Ride Joburg took place on Sunday, starting and finishing at FNB Stadium in Nasrec. The event attracted tens of thousands of cyclists from across South Africa and beyond. The main 97 kilometre road race and the shorter 35 kilometre ride gave professional athletes, amateur riders, and enthusiasts the opportunity to experience Johannesburg’s streets from a different perspective.
City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero officially opened the race by firing the starting gun, sending thousands of riders off on their journey through the city’s major roads. Morero praised the scale of the event, saying it demonstrated Johannesburg’s ability to host international sporting spectacles while promoting health, safety, and sustainable living.
“The scale of this event, measured in thousands of participants, is proving Joburg’s ability to host global spectacles. We are seeing how this is championing cycling as an eco-friendly and healthy means of mobility, aligning with our vision of a sustainable lifestyle among Joburgers,” Morero said.
In preparation for the race, several key routes were closed to traffic to ensure the safety of participants. These included stretches of the M1 South and North between Crown Interchange and Corlett Drive, Jan Smuts Avenue, Oxford Road, and sections of the N14 near Krugersdorp.
Traffic officials from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department were deployed along the route to manage detours, ensure smooth flow of non-race traffic, and provide emergency response support where needed.
The City of Johannesburg said the event formed part of Transport Month activities aimed at encouraging residents to explore cycling as a practical and environmentally friendly mode of transport. Makhetha’s participation as both a law enforcement officer and cyclist symbolised the City’s effort to promote road safety, fitness, and public engagement.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) also participated in this year’s event as part of its road safety awareness campaign. The RAF team engaged with cyclists and spectators to promote safe cycling and responsible road use under its #RoadSafetyInitiative.
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation, cyclist fatalities accounted for 1.2 percent of all road deaths in 2024 and 0.8 percent during the 2024 to 2025 festive season. Most of these incidents involved male riders. The RAF has called on all motorists and cyclists to share the road responsibly, obey traffic rules, and remain alert at all times.
“The RAF continues to urge all road users to act responsibly to prevent avoidable crashes that cause emotional and economic hardship for families and communities,” the organisation said in a statement.
