Correctional Services Network Controller Moagi Desmond Tlholwe, stationed at the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West (LMN) Regional Office, is preparing for his first-ever Comrades Marathon, more than a decade after he first laced up his running shoes in 2013.
What started as leisure road running soon took on new purpose after a chance encounter in 2015. “The day after attending a music concert in Johannesburg, I came across thousands of runners participating in the Soweto Marathon. Seeing them with my own eyes completely changed how I viewed running and ignited something within me,” he recalls.
The North-West University alumnus, who holds a BSc in Computer Sciences and Electronics as well as a BCom Honours in Information Systems, never looked back after discovering his passion for running and soon began taking the sport seriously. He entered his first race in 2024, the Boxer Super Run 5km, where he finished in 27:52. From there, he steadily progressed to 10km races such as the Wonderpark and Mandela Walk events before advancing to the 21km distance.
“In 2025, I decided to take on my first marathon, the 42km Kosmos, where I clocked 04:57. I also ran the 21km Hoka, the 10km Absa Run Your City races in Johannesburg and Pretoria, along with the 21km Region 5 and CSIR Road Race to elevate my performance,” he says.
Popularly known as “Des Builder” – a name derived from Desmond and Moagi, which means ‘builder’ – he explains that after achieving personal bests in various races, he felt ready to take the next step and attempt a Comrades qualifier. “Growing up, I would wake up very early to watch runners competing in the Comrades. Over time, I developed a desire to experience it for myself, not from the comfort of my TV screen, but as a participant on the road,” says Moagi.
That dream began to take shape when he completed the 42.2km Jacaranda City Challenge in a time of 4:04, a performance that secured his Comrades qualification. “As part of my Comrades preparations, I planned to run four marathons and one ultra, including MiWay Wally, Kosmos 3-in-1, Johnson Crane Hire, Jacaranda City Challenge and the 50km Tshwane North Ultra,” he reveals.
He explains that the Kosmos 3-in-1 served as a true test of endurance: he started with a 42km run at 06:00, followed by a 21km race at midday and a 10km run at 17:00 – all in one day, covering a total distance of 73km. A firm believer in the therapeutic benefits of long-distance running, he prefers to run without music or a phone, using each session as a form of meditation. Having covered about 1,300km over the past five months, he now aims to complete the 85km Up Run in under ten hours. His message to the youth during Youth Month is: “Health is wealth,” urging them to prioritise their well-being and stay active.