Lindelani “The Purple Jaguar” Mjwara claimed a stunning victory at the Rolando Hillcrest Half Marathon as he prepares to represent KwaZulu-Natal Athletics at the ASA 42km Championships.
Dubbed “The Purple Jaguar”, Lindelani Mjwara joined the Hollywood Athletics Sub Elite program in 2024. This past weekend, he claimed first place at the Rolando Hillcrest Half Marathon, a course he knows well having finished second in the full Marathon there last year. This time, he opted for the Half Marathon as part of his preparation for the ASA 42km Championships in Cape Town this coming weekend.
Mjwara’s selection to represent KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) comes after his outstanding performance at the 2023 Kaapsehoop Marathon, where he finished third with a time of 2:18:18. The humble athlete, born in Bhulwa, KZN, expressed his excitement about his recent victory in the 21km race: “I’m happy with my performance on Sunday. It was the perfect opportunity to test my speed and readiness for Cape Town,” he said.
This weekend will mark Mjwara’s debut in the black and white of KZNA in the Mother City. “Representing KZN is an honour for me. I’m grateful to be chosen among so many talented runners in the province, and I hope to one day represent South Africa,” he added.
The future looks bright for Mjwara as he sets his sights on the Comrades Marathon, following his impressive 53rd-place finish last year with a time of 6:03:06. With this year’s race being a down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, ‘The Purple Jaguar’ has made his ambitions clear—he’s determined to break the six-hour barrier in what will be his second Comrades appearance.
