The athletics community is deeply saddened by the passing of Andries Venter, an honorary member and one of the most influential figures in the club’s history.

Andries was a towering presence whose contribution spanned decades.

He served as chairman from 1992 to 1996 and again from 1998 to 2017, providing steady leadership, vision and unwavering commitment during some of the club’s most formative years.

His dedication helped shape not only the organisation itself but also the culture of excellence, service and camaraderie for which it is known today.

An extraordinary athlete in his own right, Andries is best known for his remarkable achievements at the Comrades Marathon.

He entered the iconic ultramarathon on 34 occasions and completed it 32 times, a record that stands as a testament to his endurance and resilience.

Of those finishes, 19 earned him silver medals. His standout performance came in the 1991 down run, where he recorded an exceptional personal best time of 6 hours and 24 minutes.

In an article published on June 29, 2018, by the Alberton Record, looking back on his storied Comrades career, Andries described the gruelling race as an experience that offers ‘immense personal rewards’.

At the time, he was serving as vice chairman of the Alberton Athletics Club and shared candid reflections on what kept drawing him back to the demanding 90km journey between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.

“People often say to me, why do you want to keep doing this? What is it about putting your body through all this training, for just one day of hoping that you have done enough and that you will achieve your goal, or even just survive, over a very demanding and testing 90km stretch of road?” Andries said.

For Andries, the answer lay far beyond race day itself.

He explained that Comrades was not about a single run, but rather the culmination of months of dedication, discipline and sacrifice.

“The day itself is merely a culmination of many months’ worth of input into my passion,” he said, noting that the training often required giving up many of life’s pleasures.

“Running the Comrades is much more than that. It is a life experience that one chooses to live, and to most seasoned Comrades runners it is a lifestyle. Comrades does give one immense personal reward, often inner reward more than the obvious external, physiological rewards.”

Those words now stand as a powerful reflection of Andries Venter’s approach not only to running, but to life: committed, purposeful and deeply meaningful.

Beyond his accolades and administrative roles, Andries will be remembered as a mentor, role model and friend whose passion for athletics inspired generations of runners and administrators alike.

Details regarding a possible memorial service, as well as a memorial run planned for the new year, will be shared in due course.

Heartfelt condolences are extended to Andries’s family, friends and all those whose lives he touched.

His legacy will endure within the club and the wider running community for many years to come. May he rest in peace.

ALSO READ: Andries Venter completes 32 Comrades Marathons