South Africa’s sporting community is outraged after revelations that KwaZulu-Natal’s uMngeni-uThukela Water spent nearly R400 000 of taxpayer money to send one of its employees to the New York City Marathon, while talented athletes struggle to find funding to compete internationally.
Ultramarathon runner Bennie Roux (41) who has poured his own savings into competing overseas says the move highlights how opportunities are handed to the wrong people.
“It’s extremely difficult for athletes who work hard and give everything to get ahead. Then you read about this kind of story — it’s infuriating,” Roux said.
“They’re literally wasting money on first-class flights. It makes a person sick.”
R400 000 Trip for a Back-of-the-Pack Runner
According to whistle-blower documents, uMngeni-uThukela Water defended its decision to cover flights, accommodation, and entry fees for Lorraine Zandile Mhlongo (32), a supply chain official.
Mhlongo completed the marathon in 5 hours 27 minutes, a time slower than the Comrades Marathon qualifying standard. She placed 46 328th out of 55 526 participants and 141st among 170 South Africans who ran the race.
In contrast, Roux spent around R250 000 of his own money to compete in the Moab 240-miler a gruelling 385.7 km race in Utah where he finished third overall.
“My dream is to compete in Switzerland next,” Roux said. “It’s sad to know there’s money in this country, but it’s spent on the wrong people. South Africa has enormous talent, but it’s being hijacked by rubbish like this.”
Water Entity Defends Sponsorship
uMngeni-uThukela Water spokesperson Siyabonga Maphumulo told the Sunday Times that the sponsorship followed internal policies and was aligned with the utility’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
“It’s not like this was a clandestine matter hidden from the public the selection criteria are open for anyone to see,” Maphumulo said.
Mhlongo, from Richards Bay, ran in the 30–34 age group and placed 3 389th in her category.
Political Outcry Over ‘Vanity Projects’
DA spokesperson on sport, art and culture Leah Potgieter criticised the decision, calling it a “vanity project” and accusing the government of neglecting real sporting talent.
“Federations like Swimming SA are facing budget cuts of up to 60%, yet officials enjoy fully funded overseas trips unrelated to their work,” Potgieter said.
She confirmed plans to investigate the sponsorship, questioning its value compared to supporting South African athletes.
“This is exactly why so many athletes look abroad for opportunities,” Potgieter added.
Taxpayer Money – ‘Corruption Everywhere’
Economist Dawie Roodt described the incident as symptomatic of a much deeper problem.
“I wonder if there’s any department that isn’t run like this,” Roodt said. “We hear about corruption left, right, and centre. South Africa needs a serious reset.”
Minister Gayton McKenzie had not responded to questions at the time of publication.
Key Details at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Entity involved | uMngeni-uThukela Water (KZN) |
| Sponsorship amount | ± R400 000 |
| Sponsored runner | Lorraine Zandile Mhlongo (32), civil servant |
| Race | New York City Marathon |
| Finish time | 5h 27min |
| Overall position | 46 328 / 55 526 |
| Top SA ultramarathoner’s result | Bennie Roux – 3rd at Moab 240-miler |
| Athlete funding | R0 from government, R250 000 self-funded |
| Official stance | Sponsorship “within policy and CSR mandate” |
| Public reaction | Accusations of waste, misplaced priorities, and corruption |
The uproar has intensified pressure on government departments to justify discretionary spending and ensure taxpayer money supports genuine sporting talent not personal perks for officials.
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