Johannesburg Municipality Police Department’s (JMPD) cycle team wanted to put Corobrik on the map by having them sponsor their kit in the annual cycling competition between themselves and other metro cycling teams. This annual event is made up of teams from the municipality police departments of Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Durban. It has become a popular event where the metro cycle teams unite in a different city each year to compete against one another- this year the host city was Johannesburg.
The event, taking place over three days, tests the physical fitness of the teams (made up of four male colleagues and two females) and municipality metro departments represented. The challenge they sign up for increases with intensity with each day; the first sees the teams compete in 10K individual timed trials before a 20K team trial. The second day is the dreaded 4K hill climbs on individual times while the third and final day, and climax of the event, is the 50K individually timed race.
Beyond an opportunity to test team fitness and the natural benefit that comes from healthy competition, the purpose behind the event is even more meaningful. It is an intentional opportunity for departments to build relationships and establish best methods of practice in their own teams by sharing in the experiences and knowledge of other municipality teams over the three day event.
As Phindile Maseko, from JMPD, said, “It’s not just about sports but it is about learning what we can do differently in our workplace from others.” It is for this reason that Corobrik was happy to support and sponsor the event, generously donating not bricks and pavers but 20 cycle shirts and 20 Corobrik bags to the JPMD team. Musa Shangase, Commercial Director for Corobrik, said, “We at Corobrik are honoured to partner with Johannesburg Metro Police Department on this race and thank and congratulate all the cyclists who participated. Corobrik, as the Leading supplier of Clay Bricks and Pavers in South Africa, recognize that Metro Police play an integral role in protecting our cities.”
This sentiment of gratitude was reciprocated by Phindile Maseko who expressed, “We are very grateful at JMPD for Corobrik’s generous donation to our cycle team. Our department colours are orange and Corobrik’s are too, so it worked very well. We outshone everyone!”
While JPMD were not the winning team this year, (Tshwane took the title of first place while JPMD took a respectable second place), the benefit of this annual competition is clear. For this reason, Corobrik are proud sponsors, taking their generosity beyond the realm of bricks and pavers but to the protectors of South Africa’s streets too.