One of Pretoria’s best known and most experienced athletics administrators, Daan du Toit, passed away last week after a short illness.

He would have turned 82 on November 8. His death follows shortly after that of his wife, Rina, who died on 11 September this year at the age of 82. They were married 57 years.

Du Toit was a legend in athletic circles, not only in Pretoria, but nationwide. Despite his advanced age, he was still actively involved in the administration of athletics until his death and especially as chairman of the Run/Walk for Life athletics club in Sunnyside.

Du Toit was for many years connected to the South African Air Force, where he retired as a colonel. He was also South Africa’s Military Attache in France for some time.

His career as an athletics administrator, which already started as a young officer at the former South African National Army’s athletics club, was full of highlights. However, it is mainly characterized by his desire to serve the sport for the sake of athletics, without having any ulterior motives.

There were times when other elements wanted to get involved in the management of Athletics Gauteng North for the sake of their political agenda and in this period, things could have gone badly wrong if it were not for open-minded and purposeful, selfless leaders like Du Toit.

He played a very large role in steering AGN’s ship into calmer waters and under his guidance a principle of “athletics comes first” was eventually established. Thereafter AGN ended up becoming an example for other athletics governing bodies. The organization’s achievements on the track and road speak for itself since that period.

Du Toit served on the AGN Board in different capacities over the years and was the AGN President from 2012 to 2016. According to a statement from AGN, he played a big role in deepening the athletics fraternity as Chairperson of an Athletics South Africa (ASA) ad hoc committee which was formed by World Athletics with the purpose of stabilising ASA and setting up fair elections in 2014.

He was very instrumental and contributed immensely to the development of Road Running within the province.

“Today we mourn the passing of a great leader who has left behind a powerful legacy of humility, simplicity dedication and prosperity in the Athletics Community. The entire AGN Community share with the bereaved family, friends and club members the feelings of great loss at this moment of deep sorrow,” AGN said in their statement.

According to a social media entry on one of the SPAR Women’s Challenge Tshwane’s official platforms, Du Toit was involved with this race for more than 15 years, mainly as Technical Race Director.

A memorial service for Du Toit was held last Friday at the Harmonic Church in Sunnyside.

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