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08 April 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer
Danie Breitenbach and Oratile Molale
Danie Breitenbach (left) and his guide, Oratile Molale. Breitenbach ran two South African records shortly after each other.

Before the event, he didn’t think it was possible to set two new national track records within 18 hours, but he gained so much confidence after the first win that Danie Breitenbach decided to simply go for it.

With the help of his guide, Oratile Molale, the final-year Law student at the University of the Free State bettered his own South African records in the 800 m (2:05,04) and 1 500 m (4:25.59) in the T11 category (completely blind athletes). This was at the SASAPD National Championships for physically disabled and visually impaired athletes in Stellenbosch. His previous records were set in 2017.

“I struggled with various injuries over a period of two and a half years, during which I never managed to gain my top form. Since January, I was able to train injury-free. I was confident that I could improve on my 800 m record of 2:08,90. Having had such a great first race gave me the confidence to give the 1 500 m record a go the next morning,” Breitenbach (24) said.

With no 800 m event at the Paralympic Games or the World Championships, he is hoping to qualify in the 1 500 m for next year’s Paralympic Games. “I will have to improve on my time, as they are only taking about the top-five in the world. I’m sure I can go quicker with another couple of months of training.”

“I’ve been to a few international events, but these two records will rate among my best achievements. I compete in the 400 m, 800 m, and 1 500 m, but the 800 m is my favourite. I enjoy the balance between speed and endurance.”

Breitenbach was born with limited vision, but at the age of ten became completely blind after suffering a retinal release.

News Archive

A campaign that rocks
2012-08-28

Ms Elizabeth Msadu
Linda Fekisi 
27 August 2012

The 2011/2012 Student Representative Council and Wellness Office on our Bloemfontein Campus launched the “We are your rock” campaign during Women’s Month. The campaign is a support system primarily aimed at female students. It addresses issues such as intimate partner violence, prostitution and students who go hungry. The campaign also caters for those in need of career and academic advice.

The idea for such an initiative was born out of a meeting between Dr Dina Darker, a pastor’s wife at the Kovsie Student Church, and Ms Elizabeth Msadu, a social worker at the Wellness Office. “Dr Darker was concerned about rumours regarding improper behaviour of female students and wanted the input of a social worker on the subject,” says Ms Msadu. “Many girls are in relationships with older men, which result in a high level of unplanned pregnancies that often end in abortions.”

How the initiative works is that a student in need will write her name and contact number on a rock or a piece of paper and put it in a box placed in our Women’s Memorial Garden. Ms Msadu empties the box once a week and contacts the student in need. She describes her experience thus far of the campaign as “interesting, exciting and an eye-opener”.
 

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