Thami Xala Race unites Germiston community to support families in need

The annual Thami Xala Race brought together runners, walkers and community members in a spirited display of unity and purpose, raising much-needed funds to support underprivileged families identified by the Thami Xala Foundation.

The event, which featured both a 7km run and a 3.5km fun walk, saw 213 participate on September 20.

Founded in 2021 by Thami Xala, a Rondebult resident dedicated to uplifting the less fortunate, the foundation has become a beacon of hope in Germiston and surrounding areas. Its initiatives include monthly feeding schemes, annual food parcel drives, donations of school shoes and sanitary pads and empowerment programmes for unemployed youth, women and fathers.

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The foundation also provides ongoing support to orphanages and the elderly. “Our mission is to leave a lasting positive footprint in the lives of those who need it most.

Events like this race are not just about fitness, but about building a stronger community that looks after one another,” said Xala.

The turnout at this year’s race reflected growing community support for the foundation’s vision of alleviating poverty and unemployment through targeted empowerment initiatives.

Participants expressed pride in contributing to programmes that directly impact schools, families and vulnerable groups in Germiston.

The success of the race has cemented it as an annual fixture on the local calendar, combining sport, health and community upliftment into a single powerful event.