Roodepoort cop completes grueling Comrades

Sergeant James Mahlaela, a member of the Roodepoort Police, was one of the 437 police members who participated in the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon in June.

Mahlaela crossed the finish line in an impressive 11:43:00, just 17 minutes before the 12-hour cut-off time, earning himself the coveted Vic Clapham medal.

In an interview with the Roodepoort Record, James shared his inspiring journey. He started running after Covid-19 as a way to improve his fitness, beginning with shorter distances like the 10km at the Soweto Marathon.

“My health wasn’t great before Covid, especially my blood pressure; it was always high,” he revealed. “But I took it upon myself to start doing something, and it has paid off.”

He described his first Comrades experience as overwhelming but ultimately rewarding. He said he ran smoothly for the first 42km, but his legs began to struggle after that. Mental toughness played a huge role in pushing him through.

“I was honoured to run with elite athletes like Gerda Steyn and Tete Dijana, as well as international athletes,” he said. “The support from spectators was incredible and motivated me to reach the finish line.”

He also mentioned that he participated in the 2025 Two Oceans Marathon, even though he didn’t finish, it served as valuable preparation for Comrades.

With a smile, he concluded, “I’m going to run again in 2026 to earn my back-to-back medal.”