'It’s not easy but I think about what those women go through' - Mokobane runs 16 day 1400km for GBV
With less than seven days to go till the 2022 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, most runners who will be taking on the 42km are enjoying a well-earned taper after weeks of hard training. But not Tumelo Mokobane. That's because the man from Thembisa is on an epic journey running the 1400km from Johannesburg to The Mother City in order to raise funds for an NPO called Abafaziphambili who assist women and children that are victims of Gender based violence.
"Late last year I picked you the local news paper where I read about Abafaziphambili then it touched my heart. I have realised that God sent me in this world to be a servant," he told #TheTopRunner. "I will continue to serve his people and be the voice of the voiceless through my calling of running. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind," said the man who is not embarking on a gruelling running challenge like this for the first time.

In 2017 along with fellow runner and friend Hazel Moller, Mokobane completed the Ten 10 Charity race. On that occasion the pair aimed to run ten Comrades Marathon 90km distances in ten consecutive days, with the final 90km being the actual race itself from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Battling injury and fatigue, Moller and Mokobane managed to finish the 900km, raising R200 000 for neglected township dogs in the process.
Yet as tough as running from Joburg to Durban was, little could have prepared him for the gruelling journey to the Western Cape. Having departed from The City of Gold on the 28th September 2022, Mokobane's route takes him though some of the hottest parts of the North West and Northern Cape provinces before arriving at the DHL stadium on Friday 14 October 2022. The mercury hit the mid-thirties in parts of the North West last week, testing his resolve to the core as he broke out in heat rash and had to contend with heat-induced nose bleeds.

"There were times that I want to quit, but there was call from my mom and dad who said I should remember why I am doing it. They told me to think about all those people I am fighting for, and for who I am the voice. It’s not easy but then when think about what those women go through - the pain each and every single day of their life, it motivates me to keep going. The only time that some of them have peace, it’s when they are taken out of the house in a coffin, but for me it’s just the 16 days of pain."
With his seconding team of Samukelo Khumalo, Koketso Mahote and Musa Dlamini with his every step of the way and the support of his employer JB Active Fourways Mall; Puma South Africa with footwear; fuel from George Storrar Motors in Groenkloof, Pretoria; Masilo Masha, Leanne Levin, NPL Nutrition, Maonta Selepe from Abafaziphambili, Wergelé Mackenzie and Emile Smith, Elroy Gelant, Raymond Banda, John Boscoe, Thulani Sibisi, Pio Mpolokeng, Tulamo Maubane and Athletics South Africa President James Moloi, Mokobane is aiming to raise R300 000 to help 30 vulnerable women. You can be part of it by and donate by visiting clicking HERE.
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