Last year, I cycled 43 kilometres and wondered what on earth I had signed myself up for. This year, I cycled the exact same route and had the time of my life. But the Sun City GM’s Kasi Ride is about so much more than getting on a bicycle. It’s about community and doing good.
North West, South Africa (02 November 2026) – Last year, I cycled the Sun City GM’s Kasi Ride. I hated it. Not because the event wasn’t awesome but because I had only been cycling for a couple of weeks when I agreed to tackle the 43-kilometre route. Those kilometres felt LONG. I was exhausted and I questioned every decision that had brought me to that starting line.
Fast forward a year, and everything changed. I cycled the exact same route a week ago, and I LOVED it. My fitness has improved, my confidence has grown, and instead of counting down the kilometres, I was enjoying every single one. Please don’t judge. I’m a cyclist now. I rode alongside other cyclists I had met the previous year. We chatted, laughed, caught up on life and even danced on our bicycles. Yes, danced. Well, as much as you can on a bike.
But the Kasi Ride isn’t really about cycling. It’s about purpose. And people. And it’s about using sport to bring communities together and make a difference.
On Sunday, the 25th of October 2026, the annual Sun City GM’s Kasi Ride celebrated its fifth anniversary, welcoming more than 8,000 participants. Led by Sun City Resort General Manager Brett Hoppé, the initiative connects the resort with neighbouring communities Mogwase, Chaneng, Mabale-a-Podi and Ledig, while promoting healthier lifestyles, mental wellbeing and awareness around gender-based violence and femicide.
And it has grown into something really special. This year’s event featured 43km and 21km cycling routes, a half marathon, a 10km run, a 5km fun walk and run, aerobics and self-defence classes. There was even entertainment from Kamo Mphela, Kabza De Small, Doughlas Mosadi and Amon Mokoena. Thousands of South Africans came together, not just to get active, but to support a shared message of health, community and social change.
“As we celebrate the fifth edition of the Sun City GMs Kasi Ride, we are proud to see how the event has grown year after year, attracting participants from across South Africa. The Kasi Ride is a reminder that wellness extends beyond physical health to include our mental and emotional well-being. It encourages us to stay active, support one another, and have meaningful conversations. We also use this platform to take a stand firmly against gender-based violence. I call on everyone to take a public stand and unite against the scourge of GBV that is tearing through our country. Enough is enough,” says Brett Hoppé, Sun City Resort General Manager.
It creates a space where physical activity becomes a starting point for bigger conversations about mental health and supporting one another. It also shows what can happen when businesses, government and local communities work together for a common purpose.
Last year, I crossed that finish line exhausted and wondering why I had agreed to do it. This year, I crossed it smiling and grateful. Next year, I’ll be back. Hopefully a little fitter, definitely smiling and probably dancing on my bicycle again. And most importantly, I’ll be riding for good.
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