By Doreen Mokgolo
Bayanda Walaza’s family is proud of his success, believing that his hard work and sacrifices helped him achieve his dream of winning an Olympic medal at just 18 years old.
Bayanda, a Grade 12 student at Curro Academy in Pretoria, was part of Team South Africa’s 4x100m relay team, which included Shauma Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana, and Akani Simbine.
They won the silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Bayanda’s proud uncle, Kgotso Makinta, told Scrolla.Africa that seeing Bayanda compete alongside experienced runners showed that all the sacrifices were worth it.
“When Bayanda was in Grade 6, he repeated the grade to improve his marks and got funding from the Murray & Roberts bursary to study at Vorentoe High School. The school had better sports resources and produced some of the best runners in the country. He worked so hard that the company funded him until Grade 11,” Makinta said.
This opportunity helped the teenager from Katlehong in Ekurhuleni, as he got a qualified coach who developed his talent and made him the sprinter he is today.
However, in 2023, the family learned that the company could no longer fund his studies due to financial problems.
“At that time, he had just won the 200m under-18 at the Athletics South Africa Championships. We reached out to Coach Hennie Kriel, who contacted Curro Academy in Pretoria, and they offered him a bursary. In Grade 12, he got a full bursary from the Ruta Sechaba Foundation,” Makinta explained.
When Bayanda qualified to compete in Paris, the family was worried about his school grades.
“He assured us that he would take his schoolwork to the Olympics and stay on top of his studies. The school also promised to send him work during the competition,” Makinta said.
Team South Africa arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday morning, bringing home six medals: one gold, three silvers, and two bronzes.
Pictured above: Bayanda Walaza.
Source: X
