On a regular day in Johannesburg, you can find Thabiso Makhetha keeping the streets safe as a Johannesburg Metro Police Officer as part of the Tactical Response Unit. When he’s off duty, you find him in two wheels,keeping fit and pedalling his was to greatness.
Thabiso says cycling is not just a passion but has become his lifestyle. “I started cycling to get fit, soon my bike became my daily way to get around,” said Officer Makhetha. He recently represented the City of Johannesburg at the 94.7 Ride Joburg race. Since taking up cycling in 2017, he has embraced it as a means to clear his mind and stay physically fit. He rides regularly, but goes to gym in order to maintain his strength and endurance. He described himself as competitive, and at the recent Metropolitan Police Games, he claimed the title of Top Male Participant, collecting a number of trophies and medals in various categories that pushed his stamina, skill and perseverance to the limit. Competing against officers from other Metro Police Departments including Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and eThekwini, Thabiso displayed his athletic abilities, but also his resilience and sportsmanship within the force. Amongst his gruelling challenges was a 400 km ride from Maponya Mall to Kimberly. “It was about testing how far we could go,” said a modest Thabiso. Looking towards the future, Thabiso has set his sights on the 2026 Ironman Triathlon, which combines swimming, cycling and running. “It will take a lot of training, but I’m ready for all that. I want to enter as many races as possible this year as part of my preparation,” asserted Thabiso. Off the pedals, Thabiso stays active in his Sky City Community, teaching Chess to youngsters and pursuing his singing talents. He says representing the city gives him an enormous sense of pride.
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Thabiso Makhetha when he’s not keeping the street safe,pedalling his way to greatness.