Athlete runs 448km, dreams of sports facility to combat GBV
Born and raised in the rural village of Tshidzini near Thohoyandou, Ungedzani said he is no stranger to hardship.
After running 448km from Pretoria to Thohoyandou in just 12 days to raise awareness about GBV, 26-year-old Pfano Ungedzani has spoken of his dream to ensure a sports facility is available as a safe haven for children.
His goal to build a sports complex is to avoid the violence and substance abuse that often pave the way in the lead up to GBV.
“My goals for the future include having enough support to build a sports complex where children can engage in sports activities and stay away from violent street activities and substance abuse.
“GBV starts at an early age when children are exposed to such harmful environments. They grow up with the idea that overpowering someone or using violence is the best solution to every problem. This mindset has to change, and I believe sport is a powerful tool to do that,” explained Ungedzani.
On June 1, Ungedzani began to 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 said he 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.
His 12-day journey was more than a physical test – it was a mental and spiritual battle.
He recalled how difficult the first day was.
“I was losing hope. The heat was intense; the temperature was above mild when I started running at 8:00. I remember repeatedly asking my team to stop because the pain was overwhelming.
“But they kept reminding me of the reason behind this journey, the fight against GBV and that gave me the strength to push forward.”
The challenges continued throughout the run.
He said there were moments when he felt like collapsing.
“Each time, I turned to God and prayed for strength. One night in particular, I had to keep running through the freezing cold early morning hours. I didn’t want to leave the warmth of my bed because it was the only time my wounds felt less painful.
“But thanks to encouragement from my friend Mr Magoma, who told me to ‘take it like a man,’ I managed to build the mental resilience needed to continue.”
Despite the hardships, the overwhelming support from communities along the route kept his spirits high.
He said the support he received was phenomenal and he felt like a town hero in many places as people cheered him on, gave him gifts, held up banners and signs, and showed encouragement on social media.
Ungedzani said near the end of the journey, some even ran alongside him, and that fuelled his determination to finish strong.
“If we can come together and put violence aside, we can build a safer, more secure South Africa where everyone can live without fear for themselves or their loved ones. It all starts with us, in our homes and communities, to create a nation free of violence.”
The athlete hopes his initiative will attract government support and partnerships that will bring his vision to life.
“Building a sports complex is more than just about sports. It’s about giving children and young people a place to belong, to grow, and to learn healthy ways of expressing themselves.
“When children are engaged in positive activities, they are less likely to be drawn into violence or substance abuse, both of which are root causes of GBV.”
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said Ungedzani’s journey is a powerful act of activism aimed at raising awareness around the devastating scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Ramathuba applauded his bravery and determination.
“Ungedzani’s selfless act is more than just a race, it is a bold statement against a national crisis. His courage, resilience, and sense of social responsibility are commendable. We are proud of him and hope his actions ignite a movement of youth-led activism in the fight against GBVF.”
Ramathuba emphasised that it is through such inspiring grassroots initiatives that communities can be mobilised and awareness amplified.
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