Postal code puts race on the map

Donald Mathipa is the driving force behind Thembisa’s most beloved road race, the Thembisa Mile and 10km.
A seasoned runner, Mathipa boasts impressive personal bests, including 30:35 for 10km at Om Die Dam in 2010, 1:05:11 for 21km, and 2:21:22 for 42.2km in 2009.

His other athletic achievements include a bronze medal at a Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) 10 000m event and earning provincial colours for Limpopo Athletics (LIMA) and the CGA.

Mathipa has also served on the CGA Road Commission and has become a respected athletics commentator and race organiser.

Born in Mokumuru Village, Bochum, Limpopo, on July 7, 1979, Mathipa’s passion for running started when he competed in 1 200m races for his primary school at the district level.

He continued to pursue running at Mmalotlo High School, focusing solely on athletics, even while managing household chores like herding cattle for his grandmother.

In 1999, Mathipa relocated to Thembisa and became actively involved in local running clubs, including the Esselen Park Running Club and the Midrand Striders Athletics Club.

It was then that he met Mark Struwig, who introduced him to the development side of the sport.

“Mark and his wife supported us with shoes, transport and race entry fees to help nurture young athletes,” said

Mathipa, reflecting on the valuable lessons he learnt about race organisation from his experiences with Mark.

Mathipa debuted as a race commentator in 2010 and discovered his passion for developing the sport.

In 2012, with his friend Action Ramaboea, he began conceptualising a one-mile (1.6km) race for social runners.

With the support of the Elim Running Club, they set the date for the first event – December 1, 2012 – to commemorate World Aids Day.

“Although we didn’t initially plan to attract elite athletes, we realised that doing so would bring media attention,” he said.

The race’s name, the Thembisa Mile, was inspired by the area’s postal code, 1632, and the mile distance (1 609m on the road, 1 600m on the track).

Mathipa credits Action and Mark for playing significant roles in shaping the event.

“Mark allowed us to use his company’s storage and vehicles, and Action supported us every step of the way,” he said.

Tragically, Action later passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, but his and Mark’s contributions laid the foundation for what the race has become.

In 2014, after teaming up with the Thembisa Athletics Club, Mathipa secured official race status with CGA, and the first official Thembisa Mile & 10km took place.

Since then, the event has grown remarkably, attracting prominent athletes like Caster Semenya, Lebo Mazazi, Sibusiso Nzima and Zimbabwean Olympian Rutendo Nyahora.

Looking ahead, Mathipa envisions the race drawing 10 000 participants by 2030.

“With those numbers, we could establish an official race office and expand our community development efforts by involving local youth in the event’s operations,” he said.

Mathipa hopes to create learnerships in event organisation, media, marketing, and videography, empowering young people to help elevate the event’s success.

“We need young minds from the community to help us grow,” he added.

His ultimate dream is for the Thembisa Mile & 10km to gain recognition comparable to the Comrades Marathon, New York’s 5th Avenue Mile or the Great Ethiopian Run, which attracts 45 000 runners.

“I’d love to see our race reach that level and even attract East African elite runners,” he said.

However, Mathipa acknowledges the financial challenges involved in sustaining the event.

“It’s a calculated risk, with the entry fees just about covering costs. To make the race sustainable, we need more sponsors to support our prize money and race timing,” he explained.

Despite these challenges, the event continues to give back to the community by supporting the Thembisa Athletics Club, which develops future champions.

“I am incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their contributions to making this year’s race a success,” said Mathipa.

“I’m excited about what we can achieve with more sponsors on board in the future.”