Real Estate photographer Tshwane: Capturing a property with a view on Tom Jenkins Drive.

Tom Jenkins: The mountain pass with many faces.

Tom Jenkins Drive (photographer unknown)

The mountain pass is not just all about properties with amazing views. There is so much more to it!

The 1.88 km long Tom Jenkins Drive was built by Italian Prisoners of War during the Second World War. It’s named after a former mayor of Pretoria.

Tom Jenkins was born in 1883 and came to Pretoria when he was 6 years old. He spent 57 years in the city. He retired from the department of Inland Revenue in 1938; represented Arcadia, Riviera and Rietondale.

Tom Jenkins lived on the north side of Meintjeskop. When he sold his property it was a clause in the contract that the small foot path would have to be made into a proper road.

This attractive and well-known little pass is situated in the heart of the leafy northern suburbs of Pretoria, appearing as a welcome surprise to those not familiar with the area. The pass is very steep at an average gradient of 1:8. The steep hill causes some vehicles to labour heavily as they make their way up the pass in the rarefied Highveld air. This is also true for the runners which take part in the Tom Jenkins Challenge, an annual event which features the pass and which finishes at the nearby Union Buildings.

Tom Jenkins challenge

IT’S TOM JENKINS: YOU MUST EXPERIENCE IT!

The 2019 Tom Jenkins will see the introduction of a single lap 21.1 km route. However, the notorious climb up Meintjieskop remains.

The Tom Jenkins Challenge is a popular race that takes place in Pretoria South-Africa every year. It follows through the streets of Pretoria, underneath the beautiful blooming Jacaranda trees.

On the 10th May 1994, the world witnessed the birth of a proud new nation on the steps and lawns of Pretoria’s Union Buildings.

The first Tom Jenkins challenge was run on 3 December 1994 and was the first official road race to start and finish at the Union Buildings and incorporate the renowned climb along Tom Jenkins Drive to the top of Meintjieskop.

It is a run or a walk for most up Meintjieskop on Tom Jenkins Drive that offers a 180-degree view over the leafy suburbs of Rietondale, Riviera, Villieria, just behind the Union Buildings.

Tom Jenkins drive is also part of the rout of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic cycle race.

Bestmed Tshwane Classic

ABOUT THE RACE

The third edition of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic, presented by Office National and Jacaranda FM, takes place on 3 November 2019. The race was presented for the first time in 2017 and was an incredible success, attracting 5700 riders. Last year the event built on this success and reached a participant total of 7000 cyclists.

The vision of the Bestmed Tshwane Classic is to present Tshwane’s version of the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Telkom 947 on totally closed roads, courtesy of significant buy-in from the Tshwane Local Government.

The event is an amazing journey for all of us in the organisation, which consisted of almost 700 individuals on race day on 4 November this year.

It’s a massive task indeed to position the event alongside the Cape Town Cycle Tour and 947 as the third mass participation city cycling event in South Africa, but after the second year of presentation, in which the event attracted 7000 cyclists, we believe that the race is now irrevocably set on its path.

Buy-in and support from the city increases year-on-year. This is pivotal to create safe passage for cyclists in the city centre, which enables the event to pass by incredible landmarks on the Pretoria landscape – Church Square, Union Buildings, Tshwane House, Tom Jenkins Drive, Freedom Park, Kgosi Mampuru II, and the Voortrekker Monument.