This morning, Unisa’s executive management conveyed their well-wishes towards the Unisa Athletics Club members, comprised of staff members from various colleges and departments within the university, who will be participating in the 2024 Up Run Comrades Marathon, an extraordinary 85 km stretch from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, taking place on 9 June 2024. The send-off was held at the Muckleneuk Campus, Pretoria, on 7 June 2024.  

Previously, the Unisa Athletics Club took part in the prestigious Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, hosted in Cape Town on 13 April 2024, alongside a field of 14 000 participants from across the globe.

Unisa executive management members with the Unisa Athletics Club members

Monumental feat

"We are honoured that the Unisa team will compete in this important event in the calendar of our country, where many people across the globe converge to participate in this extraordinary and exiting athletic event," said Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula. The VC remarked that she is appreciative of the participants’ endurance and keenness in taking this gruelling test. "You are doing it to fly the Unisa flag high, but also for yourselves," she said. "In addition, you are not only inspiring your colleagues, but also the entire university to take seriously the role of sports, and the role of health and wellbeing in fostering social institutional cohesion."

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula

The VC remarked that while winning is important, their participation is a source of immense pride to the university – a statement welcomed with enthusiastic applause.

The VC posited that the club members should maintain a connection with a higher power throughout their experience. "Dreams, meditations, affirmations and the blessings of the creator," she stated, "will carry you through this challenging endeavour."

Concluding her message, the VC acknowledged the potential difficulties associated with the competition, mentioning that many participants return fatigued or even injured. Therefore, she implored the members to prioritise safety during their travels and to strive to leave their families and colleagues filled with pride.

Full support from the university

Acting Vice-Principal of Institutional Development, Prof Solomon Magano, stated that the university’s management expressed its delight and supports toward the marathon participants. He continued: "In your participation, you are hoisting the flag of the university very high, and in addition, keep in mind that you are supported."

Acting Vice-Principal of Institutional Development, Prof Solomon Magano

Magano emphasised the immense challenge presented by the Comrades Marathon. He underscored that the event's exceptional distance necessitates exceptional levels of preparation, demanding both physical and mental strength and determination from the participants.

Magano further acknowledged the significance of completing the marathon while underscoring the value of participating, stating: "The ability to persevere through such strenuous exertion and immense pressure signifies the possession of remarkable talents. Furthermore, the executive management is deeply honoured to be associated with individuals who possess such endurance qualities." Concluding, Magano proffered that that the primary objective is not necessarily achieving victory, but rather the successful completion of this strenuous undertaking.

Bongani Ntuli, Secretary-General of the Unisa Athletics Club

Propelled to the finish line

"We are truly honoured not only by the immense support from the university’s executive management, but by their presence to well-wish us towards our journey at the Comrades Marathon," said Bongani Ntuli, Secretary-General of the Unisa Athletics Club. Ntuli explained that the collective energy of the university "will propel us to the finish line, and with that we affirm towards the executive management, the staff present here and the university at large that we are bringing it home."

Unisa Athletics Club members with Prof Madipoane Masenya (Ngwaná Mphahlele), Acting Executive Director: Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor (far right, standing), and Prof Mpho Ngoepe, Executive Director: Unisa Library & Information Services (left, seated)

Throughout the ceremony, various members of the executive management, including Dr Phumzile Dlamini, Acting Executive Director of Human Resources, Prof Madipoane Masenya (Ngwaná Mphahlele) and Dr Matseliso Molapo, Acting Vice-Principal of Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services, stood united in their support and in sending their well-wishes and prayers to the Unisa Athletics club members as they embark on the arduous yet adventurous Up Run Comrades Marathon. These dedicated athletes carry the unwavering encouragement of the entire university community. 

* By Godfrey Madibane, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement