Slindokuhle Mabanga
By Simon Manda
Athletes from Johannesburg’s Mandeville Para Swimming Club put in stellar performances at the 2025 Midmar Mile, bagging several podium finishes in a variety of disability classes.
The event, which takes place at Midmar Dam near Howick in the KZN Midlands, is reputed to be one of the world’s biggest open water swimming events and attracts top-class athletes, including the two-time Olympic gold medallist and current Olympic 10k champion, Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands.
James Willers defended his title in the men’s physical disabilities category, claiming gold in a time of 24:35 mins, four minutes quicker than last year.
In the men’s hearing impairments division, Amkele Qamarana secured a silver medal with a 26:42-minute time, and Slindokuhle Mabanga took bronze in 30:38 minutes.
Another exciting prospect in the men’s physical disabilities division was provided by Ntlangano Mabasa (12) and Lerato Sarelwa (13), who finished sixth and seventh in 33:20 and 36:25 minutes, respectively.
Paralympic swimmer Alani Ferreira, swimming in the visually impaired division, took home the coveted Dea Slattery Memorial Trophy for best overall swimmer with a disability, completing the course in 21:31 minutes with guidance from Olympic Open Water champion Sharon van Rouwendaal.
In additional accomplishments for the day, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities’ Casual Day Coordinator for Retailers, Adri Visser, completed her 11th Midmar Mile, an impressive feat completed in 55 minutes, placing third in the women’s physically disabled category.
Visser, a former Paralympic swimmer who held six African records before she retired in 2016, has earned a Master’s Degree in Recreation Science and in recent months, added adaptive paddling at Centurion Canoe Club to her athletic pursuits.
From its home in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg, the Mandeville Para Swimming Club serves as a Centre of Excellence for disability swimming. Focusing on making swimming accessible to persons with disabilities, the establishment is a not-for-profit company and Public Benefit Organisation, which was launched in 1997.
This dedication to excellence pays off, as athletes at the centre regularly achieve national and international success.
Head coach Tadhg Slattery commended the swimmers for their commitment to training, adding that these remarkable performances would set the tone for the forthcoming 2025 pool-based swimming season.
The Midmar Mile success is just one of many events that the centre is taking part in, with a clear intention and commitment to empower persons with disabilities and, through swimming education, to potentially save lives.
