Thokozile Mnguni
As South Africa marks Youth Month, a young police officer from KwaZulu-Natal is preparing to tackle one of the country’s toughest sporting events.
Constable Khumbulani Dlamini will be among more than 20 South African Police Service athletes under the age of 35 taking part in this year’s Comrades Marathon.
The participation forms part of SAPS’ Youth Month campaign, “My Blood is Blue”, which highlights young officers serving with dedication and pride.
Dlamini said he was inspired by colleagues who had previously completed the iconic race.
“I also like challenging myself and trying out new things. Also, I am coaching SAPS KZN eThekwini District Athletics Club, and as a leader, one has to lead by example,” said Constable Dlamini.
The 2026 Comrades Marathon, known as the Ultimate Human Race, is an 85.77km up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
Although it will be his first Comrades Marathon, Dlamini said he feels ready for the challenge.
Talking about how well prepared he is, he said, even though this is his first experience, he will take one kilometre at a time. His target is to finish in 10 hours and 30 minutes.
Dlamini serves as a Court Orderly at the Mbumbulu Regional Court. His duties include calling accused persons to the dock, helping ensure court proceedings run smoothly and maintaining safety inside the courtroom.
He said running helps him cope with the pressures of the job.
“To maintain mental sharpness, I hit the road just to de-stress. I have been watching the Comrades Marathon from the sidelines, and this year I decided to make use of the opportunity presented to me by the SAPS,” he said.
“As a member of the SAPS KZN Athletics Club, I was among the organisers of the Comrades Marathon Send-off race recently. I am grateful to the SAPS that my dream of becoming a Comrades Marathon medallist is coming to life. I have always been an admirer of the Comrades Marathon, and I did not know that SAPS allows police officers to play sports, as long as long service delivery is not compromised,” he added.
Known for his passion for running and strong team spirit, Dlamini has played an important role in building camaraderie among club members during races leading up to the Comrades Marathon.
Together with his teammates, he completed a recent 10km fun run at a steady pace to boost morale and support fellow runners preparing for the race.
“Comrades is more of a mental challenge than a physical one. The early mornings and the strict diet we had to follow were among the toughest aspects of the preparation,” said Dlamini.
“However, every sacrifice and every training session led us to this moment. Now, all that’s left is for us to enjoy the race and embrace the experience,” he added.
He said the marathon represents more than sport for SAPS members.
“For a police member, the Comrades Marathon is more than running, but it’s an awareness against crime and all sorts of social ills,” he said.
“The badge on our fast-pumping chests during the marathon is a commitment to our resolve to fight crime with everything that we have,” added Dlamini.