Page 49 - Demo

47 DUT Excellence 2025 | Semester 1The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is proud of its staff, students and alumni who ran the 2025 Comrades Marathon in June 2025. A total of 25 DUT athletes were among the estimated 22 000 runners who ran the 98th edition of the Ultimate Human Race.DUT staff and students, led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations Dr Vuyo Mthethwa and the DUT Registrar Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, braved the cold morning and were scattered along the route of the 89.9 km race to cheer on the DUT athletes. The five stations were at Umlaas Road near Camperdown, Ntshangwe (Inchanga), Hillcrest, Pinetown and Berea near the DUT Gate 8. The 25 DUT athletes consisted of two members of executive management: the Interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mr Siboniso Shabalala and the newly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Teaching and Learning Professor Vusi Gumede. Thirteen other staff members ran: Mr Thabani Mhlongo; Mr Steven Mkhize; Mr Samuel Ntsanwisi; Mr Sandile Ngema; Ms Colleen Lotz; Mr Patrick Mhlongo; Mr Sibusiso Sotsaka; Mr Lindokuhle Manyoni; Mr Lungelo Zulu; Mr Wesley Ngcobo; Ms Lauren Snell-Hillermann; Mr Mthobisi Ntuli; and Mr Nkeka Tseole. Three students ran: Ms Nqobile Mngadi, Mr Ngceba Kenisa and Ms Nonhlanhla Siyaya, and seven alumni participated: Ms Yenzi Olifant; Mr Sibusiso Mdladla; Mr Xolani Mkhize; Mr Khayelihle Ngubane; Mr Katlego Molumsi; Mr Skhumbuzo Mthembu; and Mr Bandile Ndaba.Topping the list of the DUT male staff runners was Mr Steven Mkhize, Acting Director of Logistics, as he crossed the finish line at 7hrs, 15mins. He was followed by Mr Lindokuhle Manyoni from the Sports Administration Unit with an impressive finish of 7hrs, 23mins. The female staff runners were led by Dr Lauren Snell-Hillermann, who finished her race at 9hrs, 21mins and Ms Colleen Lotz was right behind her at 9hrs, 28 mins. Ngceba Kenisa, a student, was applauded for his remarkable finish of 7hrs, 55 mins.Sharing his excitement after the race, Mkhize, who ran his sixth Comrades, said that his target was 7hrs, 15 mins, which was to DUT STAFF, STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SHINE AT COMRADES MARATHONbetter his record for last year of the up run, which was 7hrs, 22 mins. %u201cI was happy to shave off seven minutes from my last record. Everything went according to plan but I was challenged in the first half because I had to maintain discipline and reserve a lot of energy for the second half, which is always the tougher part of the Comrades. When I got to Drummond, I was already 10 minutes late. I had to dig deep to better my time. I looked at my projection, which said I would finish at 7hrs, 31 mins. The seconding from DUT Athletic Club from Ntshanga, Drummond and Hillcrest was a big boost. Sandy%u2019s corner in Pinetown was the biggest highlight of my Comrades; I%u2019ve never experienced what I went through there before. It was just unbelievable, and I think that was where I drew so much strength,%u201d shared Mkhize.He also extended his sincere appreciation to his partner, Nontsikelelo Pictured: Ngceba Kenisa, Dr Lauren Snell-Hillermann and Mr Steven Mkhize.Photographers: Khulasande Tshayile and S%u2019bonelo Dlamini