SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS PARTICIPATE IN THE MANDELA RACE

By Madali Chibambu.

• Mandela Day Race Unites 10,000 Participants – The annual Walk and Run at Wanderers Stadium promoted unity, compassion, and community service.
• People of all ages, including families and athletic clubs, joined the 5km, 10km, and 21km routes.
• A security officer described how joining the Social Development Athletic Club influenced his decision to participate in the Comrades Marathon.
   

On Saturday 26 July 2025, members of the Social Development Athletic Club participated in the Mandela Day Walk and Run Race at Wanderers Stadium in the Central Corridor.

This annual activity is an important occasion for celebrating Nelson Mandela’s legacy of unity, service, and compassion. It is dedicated to promoting community service and inspiring positive change within our communities. About 10,000 walkers and runners united to spread kindness and make a positive difference in their communities. Participants had the option to choose from three distances: 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km.
The 5km route traversed parts of Illovo and Melrose North, while the 10km and 21km routes utilised sections of Houghton Estate, passing by iconic sites such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela’s residence. Different athletic clubs, families, and friends came in numbers, with young mothers pushing their little ones in strollers and older persons walking to maintain their health.
A 33-year-old Thulasizwe Maseko, a security officer, said he felt honoured to have been part of the Mandela Race as it was his first time participating in the race. Maseko joined the Social Development Club last year after being inspired by one of the officials, Thabo Machete.
“I thought the club was only for the officials, but to my surprise, I received a warm welcome on the first day of training. Since then, I have never looked back after participating in my first race with ABSA,” says Maseko.
Maseko aspires to qualify for the Comrades Marathon next year, following in the footsteps of other officials. He shared that being part of the club has been a valuable learning experience, and he feels a deep sense of pride in his journey. What he appreciates most is the way the officials embrace him as an equal, treating him with respect and inclusion rather than looking down on him.
Maseko would like to encourage other security officers and cleaners to join the club for a healthy lifestyle and to interact with people from different places.