ATHLETICS: Supermoms Walaza and Malungane are moulding SA’s sports starlets

Bayanda Walaza and Tiisetso Malungane, two young South African athletes, are both products of single mothers who invested everything in their sons' athletic careers. Bayanda, now 20, is a double junior world champion in the 100m and 200m, while Tiisetso, 16, dominates middle-distance running and has set multiple South African age-group records.

Both mothers faced significant challenges in raising their sons, as their fathers distanced themselves or were absent, leaving the mothers to shoulder the responsibility and nurture their sons' athletic talents. Tholiwe Walaza, Bayanda's mother, sacrificed her personal ambitions to focus on her son's career, even walking away from competing to ensure her son's success.

Similarly, Catherine Malungane, Tiisetso's mother, sacrificed her own athletic aspirations to be there for her son during his training and competitions. Both mothers credit the Ruta Sechaba Foundation for providing opportunities and scholarships for their sons, acknowledging that without this support, their sons' talents might have gone unrecognized.

Tholiwe Walaza is particularly proud of Bayanda's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he helped South Africa win a 4x100m relay silver medal. Her pride in her son's achievements is evident, as he became the fastest 16-year-old on African soil by setting a new record in the mile at the Curro Street Mile in June. Tiisetso Malungane, under his mother Catherine's guidance and the foundation's support, continues to break records and reach new heights in his athletic career.