POLOKWANE – Mzansi Athletics Club (AC) held its eighth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Polokwane last Saturday, providing a platform for members to review the club’s organisational and financial status, plan for the coming year, present awards, and elect a new executive committee responsible for executing plans over the next two years.

Bilisi Rambiyana, who has served as chairperson since the club’s inception in 2017, stepped down from the day-to-day management of the province’s largest running club.

His decision was to make way for younger, energetic leaders with new ideas to ensure the club’s continued growth and stability. Rambiyana expressed his willingness to work with the new committee, stating, “Serving people, solving problems, and disrupting the status quo define the life we lead.”

The AGM emphasised the importance of superior governance, requiring regular elections to ensure accountability to members. As such, leadership roles within the club are capped at eight years, unless absolutely necessary for all stakeholders.

Over the past eight years, Mzansi AC has achieved significant milestones:

• Growing from 25 members in 2017 to over 300 members in 2024, becoming the largest running club in the province and a recognised national brand with its lime green vests.
• Achieving recognition from the Comrades Association as one of the top 20 performers in the country with a 95% completion rate.
• Successfully hosting the Muteo Women’s Day Race, with proceeds supporting disadvantaged communities.
• Turning the Mzansi AC fun run into an official race celebrating the club’s anniversary and supporting back-to-school initiatives.

Rambiyana plans to remain active in the club as a volunteer and continue serving the running community through his role as deputy chairperson of Limpopo Athletics (Lima).