Comrades runner pounds tarmac for peace activists

On Sunday, 9 June, Klaas Mokgomole crossed the finish line of the 97th Comrades Marathon in seven hours, 21 minutes. Averaging a remarkable pace of 4.55 minutes per kilometre across the gruelling 89.98km route, this feat wasn’t just one of physical endurance, it was one of remembrance, courage, and a call for peace.

Mokgomole ran with purpose. On his arms were custom-made running sleeves, emblazoned with the names and faces of seven individuals murdered on 7 October 2023 – men and women who had dedicated their lives to building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. With each stride, Mokgomole carried their memory through the rolling hills of KwaZulu-Natal, their stories woven into every kilometre.

These weren’t ordinary victims. They were bridge builders, people who refused to surrender to cynicism or hate.

Vivian Silver, a Canadian-born peace activist and the founder of Women Wage Peace, devoted her life to dialogue and aid for Gazan women. She was murdered in her home in Kibbutz Be’eri.

Hayim Katsman, an academic and activist, volunteered with nongovernmental organisation Breaking the Silence, and frequently transported Palestinians to medical care. He died shielding a neighbour during the attack.

Alex Dancyg, a Holocaust educator and historian, opened hearts and minds through shared narratives. He promoted peace through education, especially among the youth, and participated in Jewish-Arab dialogue initiatives within Israel. He was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz and later killed.

Oded Lifshitz, a journalist and tireless human rights advocate, worked his whole life to ensure that Palestinians could access critical medical treatment in Israel. He, too, was murdered by Hamas.

Ofir Libstein, a progressive leader and the head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, championed Arab-Jewish co-operation and cross-border partnerships. He was killed defending his community.

Haim Peri, a gentle soul and volunteer with Road to Recovery, personally drove hundreds of ill Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals. He was taken hostage and didn’t survive.

And Awad Darawshe, a 23-year-old Arab-Israeli paramedic, remained at the Nova festival to treat the wounded, even under fire. He was shot and killed while trying to save Jewish and Arab lives.

“These people represented the very best of humanity,” said Mokgomole, the head co-ordinator for Africans For Peace, an initiative inspired by South Africa’s own legacy of reconciliation. “They refused to give up on dialogue. They believed in dignity, for everyone. That belief cost them their lives. But their dreams mustn’t die with them.”

In a country that has walked its own hard road to healing, his message struck a chord. Just as South Africans rose from the pain of apartheid to build a new democratic nation, so too, he believes, people in the Middle East can move beyond violence to shared hope.

Running the Comrades is about endurance, about facing the long road. So is peace. It’s not quick, it’s not easy, but it’s possible. Mokgomole ran every step for the bridge builders, because they ran their race with courage and grace, and he believes it’s now up to us to keep going.

As the crowd roared for him in at the finish line, it wasn’t just a sporting victory, but a powerful act of remembrance. A marathon for memory. A race for peace.