GAUTENG SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS SHOW ENDURANCE AND TEAM SPIRIT AT JOHNSON CRANE MARATHON

By Madali Chibambu

• Over 40 Gauteng Social Development officials competed across multiple race distances.
• Several officials completed the 42km race, with some achieving Comrades Marathon qualification.
• The Gauteng Social Development Athletic Club (GDSDAC) continues to expand, promoting fitness, teamwork and employee wellbeing across the Department.

Despite soaring temperatures on Sunday (01/02/26), more than 40 officials from the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD), through the Gauteng Social Development Athletic Club, participated alongside over 13,000 runners in the 2026 Johnson Crane Marathon. The race took place at Willowmoore Park Cricket Stadium in Benoni, within Gauteng’s Eastern Corridor.
The Johnson Crane Marathon is an established annual event, widely recognised for its flat, fast two-lap route, making it a popular qualifier for the Comrades Marathon. Officials from the Department competed across multiple distances, including the 5km, 10km, 21km, and the demanding 42km marathon.
A standout moment for the Department was the successful completion of the full marathon by several club members, with some athletes securing qualification for the prestigious Comrades Marathon. This achievement marked a proud milestone for both the club and the Department.
The Secretary of the Gauteng Social Development Athletic Club, Mr Welile Sihewula, praised the strong participation and commitment demonstrated by members.
“We were very impressed by the turnout. Participants came from all corridors and institutions, and after the race, we gathered at our gazebo to share refreshments and celebrate the day,” said Sihewula.
He further noted that five members represented the Department in the 42km event and highlighted the club’s steady growth, with new members joining from different regions and institutions.
“As a Department, we are proud of how well we were represented. We encourage officials who are interested in joining the club to engage with their regional coordinators,” he added.
The marathon created a vibrant atmosphere, with sponsors exhibiting and distributing products to participants. Families, senior citizens and young children also turned out in large numbers, braving the heat with sun hats and caps to support the runners.
One of the 42km participants, Mr Thabo Machete from the Human Resources Directorate, completed the race despite limited preparation.
“I feel happy to have completed the 42km, even though I did not train as much as I had planned. This was my first race of the year, and the festive season made training difficult, but I made it,” said Machete.
Mr Machete has already qualified for the Two Oceans Marathon and indicated that he will await a substitution opportunity to participate in the Comrades Marathon.