Thandi Mdlalose on her last run
Athletic clubs from across Ekurhuleni gather to bid farewell to one of their own.
Team C16 members and other members of the running community gathered in Katlehong on May 19 to bid farewell to Thandi Mdlalose who died on May 12 at the age of 45 after a short illness.
Mdlalose was part of the Scaw Athletics Club but trained with Team C16, a training team open to athletes belonging to athletic clubs across Ekurhuleni, based in Germiston.
Soweto Om Die Dam and Two Oceans are among the list of marathons she completed in her athletics career and the highlight of her career was in 2017 where she got a bronze medal in the Comrades Marathon by clocking in at 10 hours 53 minutes and 5 seconds.
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In her honour, Team C16 hosted an 18km memorial run from Alberton to Katlehong which started at 5am, followed by a 16km send-off run, in which members of athletic clubs from across Ekurhuleni took part, from the church to the cemetery.
“She was a dedicated runner and to keep her spirit alive Benzi Tenza, the coach of Team C16, declared Thandi Mdlalose’s memorial run will be an annual event,” said Manape Malebana, spokesperson for Team C16.
The funeral service was held at Change Bible Church in Katlehong and in attendance were prominent politicians such as Fikile Mbalula, Malusi Gigaba, Tony Yengeni, as well as other well-known sports stars such as footballers Siphiwe Tshabalala and Ramahlwe Mphahlele.
Mayor of the metro Mzwandile Masina, who was related to the deceased, was also spotted among mourners.
Mdlalose was laid to rest at the Kromvlei Cemetery in Alberton.
“May the almighty God be with the family as the gallant and joyful soul of Thandi rests in peace,” Malebana added.
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