INSPIRATION
The three recipients of GEMS Spirit of Comrades Awards in 2025 are( from left) Prince Nemutanzhela, Sphamandla Maduna and Pogiso Maroku
The Comrades Marathon Association( CMA) proudly hosted its annual Spirit of Comrades Awards Gala, in partnership with the Government Employee Medical Scheme( GEMS), in Durban last October. This prestigious event celebrates the exceptional qualities of selflessness, service, dedication, courage, perseverance and Ubuntu that define the spirit of the world’ s biggest, oldest and most famous ultramarathon.
SPIRIT OF HUMANITY CELEBRATED AT 2025 GEMS SPIRIT OF COMRADES AWARDS
The GEMS Spirit of Comrades Awards Gala, which has been a tradition since 1996, honours three remarkable individuals each year, not only for their achievements in the race, but also for their embodiment of the noble values and Comrades spirit associated with The Ultimate Human Race. The award, which includes a one-ounce, pure gold medallion, is richly deserved recognition for those who showcase the inherent values of goodness in humanity, and inspire others to be equally selfless. A number of additional awards also form part of the annual awards gala, and a number of new awards were introduced in 2025
Reflecting on this spirit of humanity, Dr Vuyo Gqola, Chief Operations Officer at GEMS, says,“ GEMS is proud to partner with the Comrades Marathon Association in celebrating the Spirit of Comrades. This partnership aligns with our mission to promote health and wellness, and embodies our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, can pursue their dreams.”
Join us now in Celebrating all the winners of 2025 2025 GEMS Spirit of Comrades Recipients
FIRST RECIPIENT: Sphamandla Maduna
Sphamandla Maduna, or Spha as he is affectionately known, is a volunteer who became inspired to run the Comrades Marathon, even though he has cerebral palsy. In 2025, he completed his first Comrades as a novice, running for Hollywood Athletics Club, finishing in a time of 10 hours 52 minutes and 46 seconds to earn a bronze medal. He has shown his ability to run the Comrades despite his disability, and his inspirational story of courage and overcoming adversity shows what can be achieved if you put your mind to it, and if you live by his motto:“ Disability does not mean inability.”
SECOND RECIPIENT: Prince Nemutanzhela
This heart-wrenching story begins in Tembisa, two weeks before the 2025 Comrades Marathon. After 22 years as a security officer, Prince Nemutanzhela was shot in a home invasion, losing his friend in the attack and seeing his wife also rushed to hospital with wounds incurred while protecting their children. His wife knew it was his dream to run the Comrades, and she encouraged him to still participate. So, he lined up at the start, a wounded novice from the Irene Athletic Club, and there was no one prouder to receive a medal after 11 hours 48 minutes and 41 seconds. He could have been a statistic, but instead he rose above it and became an inspiration.
Images: Comrades Marathon Association
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