The athletics fraternity is mourning the deaths of four runners who died in a crash after participating in the Best of the Best Marathon 2025 in Durban on Sunday.
Siraj Mbale, Adolph Ramalanzwa (Oโdeal), Seza Phiri and Mbali Khanyi Hlatshwayo died when returning home in Johannesburg.
In a joint statement, the Best of the Best Marathon and Ama-Ravens Athletics Club announced that four runners who participated in the marathon, who travelled from Johannesburg to participate in the race, were involved in a car accident on their way back home.
โAs the Best of the Best Marathon organising team and Ama-Ravens Athletics Club, we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families, loved ones, and the running community. We are deeply saddened by this loss and are in the process of reaching out to the families to offer our support and gather details regarding their memorial services,โ the statement read.
โTo the families, friends, and teammates of these runners, our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May you find strength and comfort in the memories shared, and may their souls rest in peace.โ
The running community was also encouraged to stand in solidarity as they honour and remember the four athletes.
On X (formerly Twitter), Running With Sole AC said: โThere are no goodbyes for us, wherever you are, youโll always be in our hearts.โ
โ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ ๐จ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฎ๐ฌ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌโ
Rest in Perfect Peace Friends ๐#RunningWithSoleAC #RestInPeace pic.twitter.com/hvMicGsMRN
On Facebook and X, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala who also participated in the marathon said: โSaddened to hear about this unfortunate turn of events for our fellow runners
โThis is heartbreaking! May their souls rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers go (out) to their families and loved ones.โ
Todd Ntwana Ya Skontere said: โThis is so heartbreaking. Seza was having a season of his life... On Sunday he named his PB run "season finale" Kante. Od, what a guy, he'd find something positive when I'm crying in my stories, hypeman of note. Laidback yet hardworking dude. Condolences to their families. (sic)โ
This is so heartbreaking. Seza was having a season of his life... On Sunday he named his PB run "season finale" Kante ๐
โ Todd Ntwana Ya Skontere ๐๐พ (@Toddinho24) March 3, 2025
Od, what a guy, he'd find something positive when I'm crying in my stories, hypeman of note. Laidback yet hardworking dude. Condolences to their families โค๐ซ https://t.co/0eztZkQSNX
Tumelo Ramaoka said: โThato ya Modimo... Oโdeal would make sure he reminds me that he will finish before whenever he sees me at the race. Definitely going to miss those reminders and challenges. He had so much potential. This left me shattered. Rest well...โ
๐๐๐ Thato ya Modimo... O'deal would make sure he reminds me that he will finish before whenever he sees me at the race. Definitely going to miss those reminders and challenges. He had so much potential. This left me shuttered. ๐ Rest well... https://t.co/q5hz06w4jj
Tebogo Mokubung said: โThis hurts. Iโve lost dedicated running strategists & a loving sister who always made sure everyone around her was taken care of.
โGents, we had plans for this coming weekend.โ
This hurts๐ข๐. Iโve lost dedicated running strategists & a loving sister who always made sure everyone around her was taken care of๐ข๐.
Gents, we had plans for this coming weekend๐ข๐. https://t.co/uSEQIcGQdh
Waterfall City Athletics Club said: โThe running community has indeed lost a great deal. With saddened hearts we say, Rest Well to our champs from @RunningWithTum1. Our sincerest condolences to all friends & families of our champs. Your race may have been cut short however you champs ran it and ran it well.โ
The running community has indeed lost a great deal๐ข
โ Waterfall City Athletics Club (@waterfallcityac) March 4, 2025
With saddened hearts we say, Rest Well to our champs from @RunningWithTum1๐๏ธ. Our sincerest condolences to all friends & families of our Champs.๐ธ
Your race may have been cut short however you Champs ran it and ran it well๐ฉท pic.twitter.com/DRaa6Sljv1