Sandton is set for a weekend of vibrant celebration and gridlocked streets as Pride, Ride Joburg, and a major G20 motorcade simulation converge to create one of Sandton’s busiest traffic weekends of the year.
- Expect major traffic disruptions across Sandton and Johannesburg from Friday through Sunday.
- With celebrations, simulations, and cycling in full swing, Sandton’s roads might be challenging to navigate.
- Authorities urge motorists to plan ahead, use alternate routes, and expect delays.
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Sandton motorists, brace yourselves. The last weekend of October 2025 is shaping up to be one of Sandton’s busiest – and most colourful – with a full line-up of events set to take over the city streets. Between Johannesburg Pride, Ride Joburg, and a G20 motorcade “dry run” ahead of upcoming international gatherings, road closures will ripple across Sandton and beyond. Whether you’re heading to work, the mall, or out for brunch, it’s time to plan your routes carefully.
Saturday, 25 October 2025 – Pride Takes Over Sandton
Saturday will see the heart of Sandton transformed into a festival as Pride of Africa hosts the Johannesburg Pride March. As part of Pride Month 2025, which unfolds throughout October, the event starts at 10am on Katherine Street, where the Pride of Africa Village will spring to life with activations, performances, and a SME marketplace.
At 2pm, the Johannesburg Pride Parade begins, winding through Katherine Street and surrounding Sandton arteries before looping back for an evening of live entertainment, drag performances, DJs, and themed hubs that will continue until midnight.
Traffic Disruptions and Road Closures For Pride
The City of Johannesburg has confirmed that Katherine Street will be closed from Rivonia Road to West Street starting 8pm on Friday, 24 October 2025, and will remain closed through Sunday evening. The Pride March itself will affect surrounding roads between 2pm and 4pm, with heavy pedestrian activity expected throughout the day. Motorists should expect congestion around Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square, Rivonia Road, and Grayston Drive.
Authorities are advising all non-event traffic to avoid Sandton Central if possible. For residents and businesses in the area, access routes will be limited, and parking restrictions will be in place.
Additional Closures On Saturday – Motorcade Simulation Continues
As if Pride festivities weren’t enough to test Sandton’s traffic flow, the motorcade simulation will continue to cause rolling road closures across the city. Between 8am – 10am and again from 1pm – 2:30pm, several major Johannesburg roads will close intermittently, including:
• Rivonia Road, Grayston Drive, 5th Street, Maude Street, Daisy Street, and Whiteley Road in Sandton
• Melrose Boulevard and Athol Oaklands Road in Melrose
• Oxford Road and Glenhove Road through Rosebank
• Jan Smuts Avenue, Rand Show Road, Nasrec Road, and Golden Highway
If you’re travelling between suburbs or heading into Sandton for Pride, allow at least an extra 45 minutes for your journey.
Sunday, 26 October 2025 – Ride Joburg Rolls In
Once the rainbow flags have been packed away, it’s time to make way for the cyclists. The following morning, the city shifts gears for Ride Joburg 2025 – the world’s second-largest timed cycle race, trailing only the Cape Town Cycle Tour in scale and spectacle. From midnight to 6am, vast sections of Woodmead Drive (R55) and the M1 freeway will close for the event, as thousands of cyclists take to Johannesburg’s streets for the annual “Cycle Challenge Sunday.”
The route spans from Soweto to Sandton, looping across major highways, arterial roads, and suburban streets.
Full List of Ride Joburg 2025 Road Closures
To help you navigate (or avoid) the cycling chaos, here’s a snapshot of the roads that will be closed or heavily affected:
• Rand Show Road between Nasrec Road and the N1 Highway
• Nasrec Road between the N17 circle and Booysens Reserve Road
• Soweto Highway between Nasrec Road and the N17 (Klipspruit Valley)
• Booysens Reserve Road, Main Reef Road, M2 East, and parts of the M1 North/South
• Woodmead Drive (R55) between Woodlands Drive and Allandale Road
• Sections of Pitts Avenue, Main Road, Witkoppen Road, Leslie Road, Douglas Road, and Jan Smuts Avenue
Essentially, if your weekend plans involve moving anywhere between Soweto, Bryanston, Woodmead, Kyalami, or Sandton, you’ll want to check detours in advance. City officials recommend using Allandale Road, Rivonia Road, and Bowling Avenue as alternative north-south routes, while Witkoppen and Cedar Roads can help ease east-west movement.
Expect Delays, Plan Ahead
Across the board, traffic authorities are urging residents and commuters to plan ahead, use alternative routes, and allow additional travel time. With Pride, Ride Joburg, and the motorcade simulation all unfolding within 72 hours, it’s safe to say that traffic congestion will be unavoidable across northern Johannesburg.
If possible, consider using ride-hailing services, Gautrain, or simply walking within event zones. Many parking areas in Sandton and Woodmead will be closed or restricted, and public transport hubs are expected to be busier than usual.
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