Page 16 - Waterfall City Issue 7 July 2025

Waterfall City Lifestyle

A BEHIND-THE-

SCENES HERO

from Waterfall City to the Comrades

I n the bustling landscape of Waterfall City, where

innovation meets nature, the dedication of
individuals and collaborative partnerships are key
to its ongoing success. A shining example of this
synergy is Siya Mchunu from KMB Environmental – a
company working hand-in-hand with Waterfall City’s
sustainability team – who recently completed his first
gruelling Comrades Marathon. His achievement is a
testament to personal grit and the strong, supportive
bond between KMB Environmental and Waterfall City.

“It was a brutal race,” Siya recounted with a smile, “Though
I enjoyed it. It was my first one, and I will run again. As long
as I live, I will run.” Siya’s path to Comrades glory was paved
with intense discipline. Every morning, before work, he
pounded the very pavements he and his KMB Environmental
team help maintain, running a whopping 17km from his
home in Lyndhurst to Mall of Africa and back again. As a
member of the Pirates Running Club, he enjoys a unified
presence during training runs, but on race day, it’s a solo
journey. “You implement your training, but now you are
running your own race.”

This year’s Comrades was the downhill race, a notoriously
deceptive challenge. “Although it was the downhill run,
there were still so many hills,” Siya laughed. “And they were
severe – the uphill was really hard.” He, however, did concur
with seasoned runners that the downhill route can be more
challenging, admitting, “You don’t realise how tough it is to
run downhill for more than 2km.” Siya’s rigorous training held
him in good stead until the 70km mark, where hamstring
problems threatened to derail his dream. “I was regretting
the run and thinking, why am I doing this to myself? But I
kept going, and when I ran over the finish line, I almost shed
tears.”

Siya’s Comrades dream faced an even bigger hurdle
at the beginning of his training when he was hijacked
and lost his running kit, personal belongings and mode
of transportation. Despite this setback, Siya remained
undeterred and continued training in old second-hand
shoes. As a gesture of appreciation for his dedication and
perseverance, KMB Environmental stepped up to sponsor
him for the event. “Thanks to KMB, they came to my aid. They
paid for my Comrades entrance fee, transportation costs
and even bought me new kit and tackies,” Siya shared, his
gratitude evident.

14 Waterfall City Issue 7 2025