Dumelang Bagolo!
- Tumelo Mabua
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
Tshwantsho Media March 2025 Recap
Welcome to yet another edition of our letter. Happy April fools, and no, this is not another joke.
March gave us a back-to-back of Run Alex 10km and Makoro Village Marathon. We spend our Human Rights Day weekend with runners and travelling between the races. It was our second year with both races, and we hope to reach double digits with both.
Run Alex was a sold-out affair, with over 2200 entries sold for the race, doubling the numbers from 2024 making the event the biggest race to be held in Alexander in recorded history. Sphiwe Nkosi of Run Alex speaking to Mapaseka Mokwele on radio 2000 prior to race mentioned that the common question asked when the race was founded was “where will the people run?”. This refers to the commonly known space constraints prevalent in the historic township.
The 2000 plus starters would prove that yes, it is possible to stage such an event under such constraints. This is a lesson to all of us that where there is a vision there will inevitably be a way. The team pulled all stops to make sure that things happen. The Johannesburg City Executive Mayor, Mr Dada Morero had the honour of shooting the starting gun, releasing the over 2000 runners on what would for some be their first, a cultural exchange, and an adventure of Alex.
The streets of Alex met the runners with a jovial mood of the township residents,
characteristic of so many other township races, with cheers along the route, all the way to the finish line. The challenge for the best bus was on, and clubs like Chillie Runners, Rainbow, Waterfall City AC, Fats Cats, SAPS, Azania, Team Vitality and Long Distance Runners amongst others, went full steam to create the festive mood with matching outfits and song. Azania AC went home with the prize. Congratulations to them, we hope they find it in them to share with us.
Kean Domingo was the first to cross the line 00:32:05 after the gun, followed by Lesetja Papo and Elvis Tau, while the ladies race went to Tshegofatso Vocho with Samantha Shabalala in second position and Simphiwe Mabuza closing the top three. It was another successful event by both Run Alex AC, which is now in its 7th year of existence and tittle sponsor Adreach, proving that corporate and social partnerships can play a critical role in creating lasting change in the societies they live and operate in. We applaud this partnership, and hope it inspires other relationships of a similar nature. Congratulations to both the organisers and the participants for the incident free event.
Upon wrapping up the Run Alex race, we packed and headed to Limpopo ga-bomma, for the Mokoro Village Marathon. The toll gates rates have gone up a bit, so we felt the pinch. Just like the year 2024, it was such a vibe. The race has grown leaps and bounce and continues to grow. We generally do not have a lot of such events in the villages, so kudos to the organisers. Held in Ga-Molepo, the race features beautiful mountain views, landscapes, and green vegetation that makes the race a delight to both run and photograph. The sunrise was particularly amazing, and one had to remain focused on the runners and not get carried away.
Hosted by Polokwane AC on behalf of the John Makoro Mpe foundation, the race attracted runners from all over the Limpopo province, both far and near, while the Limpopo natives currently digging for gold in Gauteng also seized the opportunity to run on home soil. The race aims at promoting healthy living in the villages and as the mayor would say in his birthday speech, encourages kids to also aspire for the same when they grow up. Nothing is as powerful as a good example. The race has the power to stimulate sports tourism, with the domino effect of economic activity and growth. The sponsored water points were so well stocked with essentials and delicacies to the point of evoking jealousy from the photographer, and writer. One needs to be strategically positioned for the next race for maximum benefit.
The race is known to attract SADC and Kenyan athletes particularly. To everyone’s Surprise Jackson Chilimo and Gladys Ngure, the perennial winners were not present. However, there was ample Kenyan representation. From Zimbabwe, comrades Gold Medalist Mike Fokoroni, who was in the company of other comrades’ gold medallists and local boys Letsatsi Photo and Modibe Mamabolo was also present.
It was Rirhandzu Rangane of SAPS who would win the marathon race, followed in the colours of Entsika Jonas Makhele, with Kenyan Julis Korir closing the top 3.
Local girl, in the colours of Pietersberg AC Martinique Cronje was first over the line, followed by Tebogo Mokgosinyane and Elizabeth Chemweno of Kenya.
In the 21km race the top 3 males was made up of Philemon Koskey, Mothopi Malatji and Kemoreng Moabankwe, while the SA ladies made sure of a local clean sweep of Elizabeth Hutamo, Maphuti Phaka and Gina Ngoetjana.
Conlcuding the results with the 10km, we had Reghen Magwai, Tebogo Pelusa, and closing with Alex Sello in the men’s race, while local girl Kamogelo Mogano, under the guidance of Castor and Violet Semenya took the race, followed by Roseline Isiah of Kenya, and Sedzani Maluta. Sponsors Telkom Business and Vodacom Business made sure the athletes walked away with some beautiful goodies. Well-done to all the athletes.
In other athletics activities, we visited the Om Die Dam ultra marathon again and had fun capturing beautiful moments there. The race was for the first time not going around the dam, but was successful nevertheless. The National ASA junior championships have just concluded at the Greenpoint stadium, and lots of cream went to the top. The future of SA athletics looks bright. We look forward to April activity and what it has to offer.
On the track and field front, we were treated to exhilerating action from the Continental Grandprix in Tshwane at Pilditch, as well as the Joburg GrandPrix at University of Johannesburg a week later. The event perennially attracts athletes from across Africa and the globe. This year was no exception. Tebogo Letsile graced our shores once again, before flying off to Sydney. Rethobogile Haingura recorded the fastest time on African soil in the 800m, the 400x4 ladies relay recorded a record time, while Bayanda Walaza continues to shine, Leandri Holtzhauzen broke the hammer throw ladies record amogst the many highlights.
We write this letter, on the brink of the Two Oceans Marathon, and runners have already started descending to the bottom of the continent. All the best to those participating and safe travels to the travellers.
Till our next edition, stay active, stay healthy and stay blessed.
End!
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