Gagasi FM's Siyabonga "Heazy" Madida who has qualified for the 2026 Comrades Marathon in June, credits a change of life and determination for taking up running seriously.
Image: Supplied
When around 22,000 runners set off on the gruelling journey from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in the world-renowned Comrades Marathon on June 14, Gagasi FM presenter Siyabonga “Heazy” Madida will be among them for the first time.
The 35-year-old qualified for South Africa’s most iconic ultra-marathon after finishing the 42.2km Sapphire Coast Marathon in Amanzimtoti in under five hours in October last year.
Heazy, who hosts After 8 is After 8 weekdays and the Urban Top 40 countdown on Saturday, said running the Comrades has long been a personal goal, especially as a proud KwaZulu-Natal native.
“I am proud to be from KwaZulu-Natal, and this race takes place in this province. I believe everyone should run this marathon at least once,” he said.
Although he has been running for several years, it was only in the past two years that he began training seriously.
“I used to watch the Comrades at Fields Hill in Kloof and at the finish line. In 2017, I decided that one day I would run it myself,” he said.
Siyabonga Madida, popularly known as Heazy, has gone from being the guy who used to arrive first and leave last at the party but nowadays you will find him at the gym or running. The Gagasi FM presenter will be running his first Comrades in June.
Image: Facebook
For Heazy, running represents more than just physical endurance, it is a catalyst for personal growth and discipline.
“It’s exciting to work towards something that challenges you. Running has helped me stay focused and avoid distractions,” he said.
A significant part of his journey has been a deliberate lifestyle shift.
“I was fortunate to change my lifestyle. I now spend most of my time at the gym and have cut down on drinking. Last year, I went on an eight-month teetotal streak. I wake up early and pay closer attention to what I eat,” he said.
Heazy, the younger brother of Grammy Award-winning musician and producer Zakes Bantwini, hopes his transformation will inspire others.
“People know me as someone who would be the first to arrive at a party and the last to leave. But the time for change came, I’m 35 now,” he said.
His daily routine now reflects his commitment: early morning runs, taking his daughter to school, and then preparing for his radio shows.
While he aims to enjoy the race, Heazy has set himself a target of finishing the Comrades Marathon in under 12 hours.
As part of his preparation, he recently completed the Balwin Dolphin Coast Marathon from Ballito to North Beach in Durban last weekend and plans to run the Rising Sun Chatsworth Freedom Ultra on April 19.
For Heazy, the journey to the Comrades is not just about crossing the finish line, it is about proving that with determination, anyone can redefine their path.