No proof of Mabuza’s triumphs to date

It has been more than two weeks since Barberton Times published the story of how local athlete, Aubrey Mabuza, made himself guilty of fabrication as far as his victories go.

This came to light after his last run in Pilgrim’s Rest, when the organiser of the event Clive Smart from Ilanga Trails, read the article in which Mabuza told all and sundry how he managed to beat 2013 champion, Thabang Madiba and how he was the new SA trail champion.

According to Smart, Mabuza was delusional. He also said that Mabuza would not represent South Africa in the trail world championships. One of the athlete’s main sponsors, Barberton Ford, also gave Mabuza the cold shoulder after the truth had been revealed. The sponsor said they wanted nothing to do with the athlete any longer.

Although Mabuza had written a letter of apology to the community, no proof of his triumphs during the past years which he had promised to deliver to the paper’s offices, had been received.

Although the publication searched for the real results of Mabuza’s races, it could not find anything due to most of the websites’ results not being updated.

On Wednesday, this publication tried to get hold of Mabuza on his cellphone to obtain proof of the results he claimed he would deliver, but to no avail.

Part of Mabuza’s letter reads:

“I realised that a job that you’ve been doing successfully for years can be destroyed in a day, by just one lie.

Those who are disappointed in me, I promise to deliver like the true athlete who they met years back. I have learnt that a lie never builds a future, but destroys your whole plan and your route to success.

From the bottom of my heart, I am very sorry. Life on a new page with achievements is my goal now.”

However, should Mabuza serve us with proof, Barberton Times would publish the results in the following edition.