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On Sunday, Kabelo Mabalane will take part in his ninth Comrades Marathon. It’s a race that has helped him escape substance abuse, writes Timothy Molobi
Kwaito star Kabelo Mabalane is running, but this time, he is not running away from the issue of substance abuse.
Mabalane is using his fame and his running for a worthy cause; he’s spreading the message about the dangers of substance abuse.
When the former addict, who has been clean for just shy of 14 years now, lines up on Sunday, he will be carrying the banner of his Anti-Substance Abuse Social Movement.
Mabalane launched his campaign in Johannesburg this week. Some footballers, including Siphiwe Tshabalala, Jabulani Shongwe and Happy Jele, have thrown their weight behind his mission.
The award-winning kwaito musician and actor will be among the thousands of runners who will put their stamina to the test when they take to the gruelling stretch of road between Pietermaritzburg and Durban in the 91st edition of the Comrades Marathon from 5.30am to 5.30pm.
According to the Comrades Marathon Association, there are 21 532 entrants this year, and 7 201 first-time runners.
Of this number, 974 are international male runners, 346 are international female runners, 4 298 are South African female runners, while 15 533 are South African men.
Running his ninth Comrades, Mabalane still looks back with pride on how he managed to finish his maiden race back in 2006.
“The first one was the best one for me,” he said. “I was going through unknown territory and it was my first time, so I was eager to prove a point – that is what pushed me through because many thought I wouldn’t do it.
“But I was motivated going into that race and, as they say, the rest is history. I have raised a lot of money for charities and that was also the motivating factor for me as I want to make a difference.”
Mabalane used to watch the marathon on TV and said he started running to keep himself busy after he stopped taking drugs.
“Firstly, I decided to go on the road as a way to get healthy and lose weight.
“I was used to this particular lifestyle and when I became clean, I wanted something to keep me away from the substances. It was an easy decision, because I wanted to do it.”
After being clean for more than a decade, Mabalane has taken up the ambassadorial role of spreading the message about the dangers of drug abuse.
“I am an active citizen and want to lead by example. I want to show through this spirit of resilience that it can be done,” he said.
Last month, he led a march in Eersterust, outside Pretoria, to spread the word.
“When I left rehab 14 years ago, the first place I went to was Eersterust, where I joined the community in action against drug abuse.”
He said drug abuse had become worse in communities with the proliferation of drugs such as nyaope.
Using the motto that it takes one generation to keep quiet for the next one to be wiped out, he believes he can make a difference.
“My aim is to inspire others because I have walked the talk. I believe we can turn up the volume and make a lot of noise until we get somewhere. We did it with HIV and there have been changes in our societies. I think we can do the same with drug abuse. This is affecting people’s lives too.”
He said he was proof that it was possible to abstain and lead a clean life.
“I am still standing after all these years and many thought I wouldn’t be. Those who doubted me thought it was just a stunt. I have to stay strong, not just for me, but for those who look up to me.”
On his 40th birthday on December 15, Mabalane will lead a march from schools in Soweto to Orlando Stadium in remembrance of the iconic student march in June 1976 – his birth year.
On September 1, he will celebrate exactly 14 years since he quit drugs.
“I appreciate that day when I made the decision to quit. I wouldn’t be alive today if I hadn’t made that decision.
“Brenda Fassie would be alive today if it wasn’t for substance abuse, TK would be here if it wasn’t for it and Moses Molelekwa would still be here if it wasn’t for drugs.
“We are a nation that has been partying since 1994 and we have come second best. Something has to be done.”
His mission at Sunday’s race is to improve his finishing time and he wants to complete the race in less than eight hours.
“There have been improvements in my finishing time. This time, I want to cut 13 minutes off my best finish, which was 8.13 last year,”
he said.
