SA man on crutches finishes marathon

Ogyem SolomonJune 11, 2018

1 minute read

Milton Nkosi

BBC Africa, Johannesburg

A South African amputee has sets his sights on taking part in the Ironman race after completing the Comrades Marathon on crutches.

Xolani Luvuno, who is a recovering drug addict and a cancer survivor, finished the 90km (56 mile) race just shy of 16 hours on Sunday.

The 34-year-old said this race made him a better person and it required a lot of training.

It helped me to turn my life around because I used to be an alcoholic, going to parties. So I see myself not partying anymore, instead concentrating on my running.”

He told the BBC he is now thinking about the future:

I’ve done Comrades Marathon now. It’s in the past. Now I’m thinking about next January. I want to make it to Ironman race [which includes swimming, bike-riding and running].”

Luvuno has been widely praised on Twitter:

Ogyem SolomonJune 11, 2018

1 minute read

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.