A new wave of community fitness is taking shape in uMhlanga with the launch of Umhlanga Runners on March 9 — a free, inclusive running club aimed at uniting residents across age and fitness levels.

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The initiative, founded by local entrepreneur and community leader Siyanda Calvin Ntenga, is an extension of the Ntenga Foundation, an organisation known for hosting major community events including the annual Ntenga Foundation Race, Global Entrepreneurship Festival and the KZN Youth Business Awards.

Runs every Monday
The weekly runs will take place every Monday at 05:00, starting at Chris Saunders Park, with alternating 5km and 10km routes. The club expects more than 30 runners each week, ranging from young professionals to retirees.

“Umhlanga Runners strengthens our mission by creating a consistent, accessible space where people from different backgrounds connect through something simple yet powerful — movement. When people run together weekly, barriers break down. Age, profession, race, and status disappear at 5am. That builds real community cohesion,” he said.

He added that the programme holds particular significance for youth development.

“The weekly runs create continuity. Instead of engaging communities once a year through major events, we now engage them every week. That consistency builds trust and brand credibility,” he said.

He noted that the runs will also serve as a natural communication platform for sharing information about the foundation’s existing programmes, including youth empowerment, clean-water projects and business development initiatives.

Ntenga said he anticipates uMhlanga Runners becoming a pipeline for identifying emerging leaders and volunteers.

“Leadership reveals itself in small moments — who motivates others during a tough run, who arrives early, who encourages beginners. Those qualities translate directly into volunteerism and community leadership,”
he said.

“It’s not just about building runners, it’s about building responsible community contributors.”

He added that the Foundation has responded by building strategic partnerships and diversifying its initiatives.

“Our long-term vision is to build a foundation that is not event-based, but community-embedded,” Ntenga said. Follow Ntenga Foundation on social media for updates.

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