As the Vodacom Group ME for Talent Management, Organisational Effectiveness, Culture and Diversity & Inclusion, Tando has to partner with leadership teams and align different markets to the overall Group strategy. The role spans numerous markets and cultures, with frequent travel, requiring Tando to manage constant change, be self-disciplined and prepared for any eventuality while still being agile. Fortunately, he has had a great learning resource to develop the resilience required – taking part in the Comrades Marathon.

The start of the race

Tando recalls being active in school sports but not competitive. Only after joining the corporate world did he venture into road running. “It was when I moved to Johannesburg that the real interest in a structured running programme was fully realised,” he says. “I would do the occasional 5 to 10km runs in and around the house – until one day my wife Zama and I decided to run the Old Ed’s race in Houghton.”

The couple were surprised by the number of professionals running early on a Sunday morning and soon became regulars at the Sunday sessions. “Although I am not a professional runner, running with a group of like-minded corporate professionals, who have running goals, was quite fulfilling and rewarding because of the meeting of minds and alignment of thinking,” Tando says. “I’m kind of a sucker for those things because you can relate to your peer group, you make friends and find a community. The running group has an active WhatsApp group, which was created in 2014, and we have stayed connected since then.”

It was during these races that Tando met his running mentor and coach, Tshepo Khoza. Tshepo specialises in developing walking and running programmes, helping people to get fit and ready for longer stints on the road. “Tshepo provided just exactly what we all needed: a structured running training programme,” Tando says.

Training with a programme requires rigour, discipline, consistency, and focus. It also meant sacrifice to be at a 5:30am session far from home. But it had many benefits other than getting stronger too, he adds. “At a time when I had young kids with their routines, including homework and reading time, it came in quite useful as it allowed us to follow a routine at home. Thus, early nights for everyone and freshness for the day ahead.”

The Comrades connection

It was through the training programme that Tando met runners who had completed the Comrades Marathon. Like most South Africans, he had watched the race a few times but had not considered taking part. Then he saw one of his own running mates cross the Comrades finish line and his interest in participating was ignited. Tando and Zama marked their 10th wedding anniversary milestone by training for the New York marathon. After successfully finishing the race, they set their sights on the next goal: running the Comrades.

The couple took on more challenging ventures, like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and started with formal Comrades training, which is an intense programme. To compete in the Comrades, a runner must qualify by completing a marathon in a time of 4 hours and 50 minutes. It is not just about physical endurance, though – the race demands mental fortitude and a realistic outlook.

Tando recalls being encouraged to attend the Comrades seminar, an information session about the event, as a novice. “As the speaker opened the evening he asked, ‘How many of you will be doing the Comrades for the first time?’ A fair number of hands went up and he said, ‘70% of you won’t finish the race.’

“When asked why, he explained that while the race is scheduled over 12 hours, finishing depends on how you execute your race-day strategy and plan for the day. Time on its own would not be sufficient.” It is tough when an expert tells you that you are probably going to fail. “This is where training takes you to another level,” Tando says. You must mentally prepare for failure by accepting that you will likely fail. You must learn to be comfortable with the idea of failing, and still do it anyway.

Lessons learnt

Tando was determined to continue despite the risk of failure and picked up some valuable insights along the way. “This reality check taught me to have a clear and concise plan, to prepare for the unexpected, to allow myself the space and opportunity to become more confident and creative during demanding situations – and that you need to become one with the fraternity, make friends, be sociable. After all, it is the camaraderie of the Comrades that makes the race unique and special.”

Success and achieving new goals

Despite being nervous, Tando made it to the finish line and got his Vic Clapham medal for his very first Comrades. Taking part in the ultramarathon is no easy achievement. It is often described as the ultimate human race – an ordeal that stretches the body’s physical capability to its limit. Tando had, of course, heard about the pain but experiencing it first-hand was a shock.

However, the adrenaline, the excitement of succeeding and the sense of accomplishment overshadowed all else. He decided to take part the next year to receive back-to-back medals and succeeded in achieving this goal. Every subsequent year meant a new goal, a new way to improve his time and better himself. He pushed to reach the 10-medal mark, shaving two hours off his first race time, and received the coveted “green number” from veteran runner Bruce Fordyce.

When a runner completes their 10th Comrades, they attain their green number and keep their race number for life. This race number is then “retired” and used only by that athlete.

Having entered the Comrades for the last 13 years, Tando has completed it 11 times and has 11 medals to his name, only missing the Comrades Marathon when the in-person edition of the race was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race was resumed in 2022. Across 11 starts, Tando has been awarded five Vic Clapham medals, five bronze medals and one Robert Mtshali medal.

He has already achieved more than most runners, yet Tando can still be found training at each of our markets he visits. Running is more than a stress reliever – it’s a passion, part of his identity and the key to balance in his life.