The South African athletics community is in mourning, after one of the legends of this sport and a man who left deep footprints at Athletics Gauteng North, passed away.

Walter Vilakazi, who has been the General Manager of Athletics Gauteng North for many years, passed away last week after struggling with his health for some time

Athletics South Africa (ASA) President James Moloi bemoaned Vilakazi’s death as a great loss to the entire sports of athletics.

“This is a massive loss indeed. Walter was a man who lived, ate and worked athletics. It’s even more devastating for those of us who also knew him at a personal level. He was a friend, a people’s person, a gentleman, soft-spoken and an avid runner. He refused to allow his chronic illness to deprive him of his major love of running,” Moloi said.

Although he was primarily known as an administrator, Vilakazi was also an avid road athlete, completing literally hundreds of races in his lifetime. His face was recognizable almost every weekend among the thousands of other active road athletes from Gauteng somewhere at a race.

“We pass our deepest sympathies to his wife, children and the rest of the family. Their loss is truly our loss as well,” Moloi concluded.

Vilakazi was appointed as a General Manager of AGN on 23 March 2003 and retired on 30th March 2019.

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