Written by: Kayla South
Article source: JOY! Magazine
If you knew my dad, Jono Cloete, even for a second, you’d know he was impossible to miss. He had this big, booming laugh that could fill a room and a heart that somehow made space for everyone. He was my dad – a man of strength, of passion, resilience, and, most importantly, a man of God.
Faith and forward motion
Faith was always at the centre of who he was. It shaped the way he loved, the way he lived, and the way he built his fitness company, Urban Fitness Outdoor, from the ground up. He believed in movement – not just in the physical sense, but in always pushing forward, no matter what life hit you with. And life hit him – hard.
The accident that changed everything
In April 2021, while out on a ride, my dad was hit by a car. The accident nearly took his life, leaving him in a coma for a month and in the hospital for another five. He suffered broken bones, ruptured lungs, bleeding on the brain, endured countless surgeries, and fought through a frontal lobe traumatic brain injury that changed nearly everything about him. The man who had always been so sure of himself, so strong, was suddenly faced with a body and a mind that no longer worked the way they once did. With this physical battle, came a spiritual one.
Wrestling with God
The faith that had once been his foundation seemed to crumble beneath him. He felt lost, abandoned, like God had left him in his suffering. And yet, even in that darkness, God was still there, waiting for him to return. It wasn’t an easy journey back, but my dad found his way. He learnt to trust again, to believe that even in the struggle, God had a plan. No matter what he faced, he chose to put his faith in the Lord, and that faith carried him through the hardest days of his life.
Finding freedom on two wheels
And somehow, despite everything, he got back on his bike. It terrified us, his family, but cycling was where he felt most free. No stutter, no anxiety, no weight of his injuries – just him, his bike, and the road ahead. He never stopped pushing forward, never gave up, no matter how hard his new reality had become.
The second blow
Then, on October 15, 2024, it happened again. Another driver, another accident. Except this time, he didn’t come home…
Turning grief into purpose
Losing my dad shattered me in ways I can’t put into words. The unfairness of it, the heartbreak of watching someone fight so hard for his life only to have it taken from him – it was almost too much to bear. But in the middle of my grief, God planted something in my heart, something bigger than my pain. I believe with everything in me that He has a greater purpose for my dad’s story, that He will not let his life, his struggles, or his triumphs be in vain.
The birth of Silent Spokes
That’s why I’ve started Silent Spokes – a campaign dedicated to raising awareness for cyclists killed on the road and the dangers they face every day. It’s about telling the stories of those we’ve lost, about making drivers more aware, and about pushing for safer roads so no more families have to experience this kind of heartbreak.
Called to keep pedalling
I’m just a 20-year-old girl who was scared because I didn’t know how I could possibly make a difference. But day after day, God has placed people in my life who have inspired me, encouraged me, and reminded me that I don’t have to do this alone. I don’t have all the answers, I don’t know exactly how this will unfold, but I know one thing – when God calls you to something, He will make a way.
His story isn’t over
My dad’s story isn’t over, and as long as I have breath, I will keep fighting to make sure his life meant something. His faith taught me that even in our deepest sorrow, God is still working. And so, I will keep going. I will keep pedalling forward. And I will trust that God is leading the way.
This article is featured in the July issue of JOY! Magazine. Read a digital version of this magazine here: joygifts.co.za
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Date published: 26/06/2025
Kayla South – email kaylaemmasouth@gmail.com for more information.
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