The national SAPS Marathon Association honoured the former Gauteng SAPS Athlete the late Insp Piet Ramudzuli of Lwamando village in the Vuwani area, in a function that was held at the Mountain View Hotel over the weekend.

Insp Ramudzuli was working at the Protea Police Station before he passed away after a short illness in July. He was buried at Lwamando on July 28.

According to the national chairperson of the South African SAPS Marathon Committee, Insp Bennedict Mathebula, who is employed at the Protea Police Station in Gauteng where Ramudzuli used to work, the Gauteng SAPS athletics team has really suffered from the loss. Mathebula added that Ramudzuli will always be remembered for his good work in the SAPS Athletics.

"I remember what he used to do when he was running. He used to pass all the athletes, up to the one who would be leading the race and go back to the last runner, then he would run and pass all the athletes again. We always knew as that he would be the leading man in all the marathons we had in the SAPS."

The chairperson of the Executive SAPS Marathon Association, Supt VG Naidoo, depicted Ramudzuli as a hardworking and dedicated police officer who always carried the mandate of the South African Police Force. "We have lost a hardworking police officer and a dedicated athlete. Ramudzuli was one of the best athletes we´ve ever had in the SAPS," he said.

Naidoo expressed his condolences to the family of Ramudzuli, who formed part of the award-giving ceremony.

Ramudzuli´s wife, Mrs Maggie Ramudzuli, received the golden new balance award that was made of Ramudzuli´s shoes that he used to wear when he was still running.