Shaheida ‘Makhi’: The woman who runs for hope and healing
Meet Shaheida ‘Makhi’ Thungo - the woman who turned her grief into greatness, one stride at a time. She’s running her eighth Comrades Marathon this year
We’re shining a spotlight on a woman whose story will leave you lacing up your sneakers and maybe shedding a little tear.
Shaheida “Makhi” Thungo is a familiar name in the local running and spinning circuits.
Makhi, short for Makhelwane (meaning “neighbour” in isiZulu), didn’t set out to be anyone’s leader, but life had other plans.
How it all began
In 2011, Shaheida’s world came crashing down. She lost her husband unexpectedly.
Just a week later, she was diagnosed with skin cancer. Alone, heartbroken, and battling illness, she hit rock bottom.
There was a dark moment when she considered giving up completely. Until something in her said “not today.”
She put on a pair of takkies and started walking. At first, it was just to clear her head. Then those walks turned into jogs… and those jogs became her lifeline.
“I felt lighter,” she told Discovery in a 2023 interview.
Fast forward to 2015. Shaheida, untrained and completely winging it, took on her very first marathon - the 42km Johnson Crane.
It was tough. She had no idea about nutrition, hydration or pacing.
Somewhere along those long kilometres, she made a deal with God: “If you get me to the finish line, I promise I’ll never let anyone else run alone.”
From that moment on, she became Makhi, the bus driver - the person in the race who helps others keep going when their legs and hearts want to give up.
From tragedy to triumph
Since then, Shaheida has achieved incredible feats.
She’s completed the brutal Washie 100 Miler. That’s 161km of madness that only the bravest attempt.
She’s run the Comrades Marathon and countless other races, each one dedicated to her late husband and mom, both of whom shaped her life in profound ways.
Running became more than a sport for her. It was therapy. A way to grieve, heal, and live again.
This year, she’s taking on her eighth Comrades Marathon
Makhi’s story is one of unbreakable spirit. She’s proof that even in your darkest moments, you can find light.
That grief, illness and heartache don’t have to be the end of your story.
Running saved her life and through her, it’s inspired so many others to keep moving, both on the road and in life.
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