Athlete to run almost 450km from Pretoria to Thohoyandou in aid of ending GBV

The Citizen

6 days ago

Athlete to run almost 450km from Pretoria to Thohoyandou in aid of ending GBV
At just 26 years old, Pfano Ungedzani is lacing up not just for a run, but for an anti-GBV mission that spans nearly 450km, many towns, and the broken hearts of South Africans.
On Sunday, June 1, the rising athlete will begin a seven-day run from Hatfield in Pretoria to Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, his home turf, with a message too urgent to ignore: enough is enough.
Born and raised in the rural village of Tshidzini near Thohoyandou, Ungedzani is no stranger to hardship.
From selling his phone to afford transport to competitions, to sleeping at a petrol station due to a lack of accommodation, his journey has been marked by persistence, poverty, and purpose.
Now ranked 38th in South Africa in the 400m event with a personal best of 48.3 seconds, he's set his sights on the Olympics. But before chasing gold, he's running for justice.
Ungedzani's running journey began at Tshamutshedzi Primary School in 2008.
'I participated in school athletics, and I would always win at the circuit level,' he said.
His early talent saw him climb the competitive ladder to district and provincial levels, where he ran at the iconic Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
His early years lacked access to facilities and exposure.
'There were limited opportunities for track events in my village,' he said.
But moving to Pretoria in 2021 changed everything. Training first with Masai Club under the watchful eye of Olympic champion Caster Semenya, Ungedzani soon caught the attention of the University of Pretoria's athletics team.
'Joining UP motivated me to love running even more.
'Now, my dream is to represent South Africa on the world stage.'
Growing up, Ungedzani idolised sprinters like Akani Simbine and Usain Bolt.
Meeting Simbine in person was a moment of inspiration, confirming to Ungedzani that greatness was within reach.
Today, he channels that same spirit of excellence into his training and advocacy, hoping to shave off three seconds to qualify for the Olympics.
'The GBV crisis in South Africa is horrifying. Femicide rates are five times higher than the global average. I've seen friends, family and neighbours suffer in silence. I couldn't just sit back.
'This run is my way of saying 'no more'.'
Ungedzani's upcoming journey will see him running about 64km per day for seven consecutive days.
He'll pass through towns, townships, and rural landscapes that mirror the one he grew up in.
While he begins alone in Pretoria, he expects to be joined by fellow runners around Polokwane.
'The risks are real: injuries, dehydration, exhaustion, but I've trained for this. I have a physiotherapist travelling with me. I'm doing this for something bigger than myself.'
Challenges still remain, such as accommodation, which has only been secured for two out of seven nights. He hopes new sponsors or supporters will come on board in time.
He believes in the power of sport to address gender-based violence (GBV) and substance abuse, another crisis affecting youth in his community.
'Sports build confidence, discipline, and community. They help people make better choices and give them something to believe in,' he said.
After the run, he plans to launch a non-profit organisation to provide training, mentorship, and resources to aspiring young athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds.
'We'll be a support system for those who need it most. My goal is to create a space where young people can thrive, athletically and personally.
'I want young people, especially those from rural areas like mine, to know their dreams are valid. No matter the obstacles, believe in yourself,' he said.
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