Ikhayalethu AC celebrate Comrades achievements and honour the race's oldest finisher Mosehla with R25 000

For his lifelong service to athletics which saw him cross the Comrades Marathon finish line as the oldest finisher for the fourth consecutive race again this year, the oldest man ever to complete The Ultimate Human Race was honoured by the iKhaya Lethu Athletics Club. Ntate Johannes Mosehla was the keynote speaker at the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) club’s annual Comrades Marathon Awards which took place at the Emoyeni Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg on Saturday (night 26 July). After receiving a cheque for R25 000 presented to him in appreciation of his efforts, the 83-year-old Polokwane Athletic Club runner inspired the scores of runners in attendance and advised them how to remain fit and healthy as they get older.

"Whether it's athletics, football or something else, sport is good because it strengthens the body against it’s chief enemy - disease. When you hear that someone has passed away, the first question we ask is was he/she sick? So the purpose of any sport is to assist the body in it’s fight against disease," he explained.

Mosehla flanked by Ikhayalethu AC Chairperson Nelson Kganyago and Itumeleng Senoamali receives his cheque. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

"Sport is a tool for upliftment which can be used to escape poverty. There are some for whom this is a livelihood. But more than that, sport brings inner peace. You see it at the Comrades Marathon where there is joy and no one is fighting. It's also good for tourism because one gets to see places like Cape Town and Durban - this is good for one's spirit" he said as he thanked the event’s organisers for the warm welcome he received. 

Mosehla was accompanied by 2012 Comrades Marathon Champion and 2016 World 100km Championships silver medalist Ludwick Mamabolo who was also celebrated for his achievements at South Africa's annual running pilgrimage. The club's chairperson Nelson Kganyago, emphasised the importance of recognising the achievements of those who make a significant contribution to the running family in general, even when they belong to different clubs.

Khumalo in action at the Comrades Marathon. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"We are a small club in numbers but our impact is huge. Having taken fourteen athletes to the comrades Marathon and to return with a hundred percent finish rate and one runner to complete in sub 6 hours is huge. The achievements have been good this year and we are looking for more and better achievements next year."

In addition to saluting Mosehla and Mamabolo’s achievements - both of whom completed the 2025 Down Run in 11:47:27 and 6:52:20 respectively - the celebration saw the acknowledgement of fourteen iKhayaLethu runners who completed the 89.98km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on June 8. The club’s three Vic Clapham medalists received R1500 each, R2500 went to the two Robert Mtshali and five Bill Rowan medalists, while the three silver medalists including Sipho Marima were rewarded with R3000 each. The biggest cheque was reserved for Sandile Khumalo, who running next to female champion and record holder Gerda Steyn for uch of the race, completed the world's most loved ultra marathon in a personal best 5:51:09. He walked away with R10 000 and rapturous round of applause.

Khumalo poses with his Wally Hayward Medal and recognition award for completing the 89.98km race in under six hours. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

"I could not have done this alone. I'm thankful more than the word can express," he said thanking the club for their support. "This year I had a wonderful race. There were some points where I had to dig deep, but I started to feel good and enjoy the rhythm when it was myself and Gerda left. I was even able to sprint and overtake three guys before the finish line. I've raced a couple of marathons but if you can ask me which was my best marathon ever, I will say Comrades 2025. I've never run a marathon and felt the way I was feeling at Comrades from start to finish."