Mandla keeps the whole race moving
Mandla van der Merwe oversees the bigger picture from our Hekpoort base in the Magaliesberg. He works closely with the team on race planning, access around North West venues, and the practical pieces that help an event run in a sensible order when weather, terrain and travel from Johannesburg or Pretoria all need attention. He likes clear communication, proper preparation and a course setup that gives people a proper test without confusion.
Lerato and the day-to-day rhythm
Lerato Zondo manages operations, which means a lot of moving parts land on her table before the first start wave. She keeps track of venue flow, team coordination, onsite timing and the little issues that can slow things down if no one catches them early. Her work suits the mix of corporate groups, first-timers and experienced entrants who need things explained plainly.
- Co-ordinates the event timetable and on-the-ground flow
- Works with the different venue access points for visiting groups
- Helps keep participant movement orderly from arrival to recovery
Johan and the course underfoot
Johan du Plessis leads course build, which is where the real physical work starts. He looks at gradients, carry points, obstacles and safety spacing so the route can handle both challenge and control. In the Magaliesberg, that means thinking about rocky ground, sun exposure, dust after a dry spell and what rain can do to a track in a hurry. His job is part planning, part hard graft and part checking that every feature is set for the field on race day.
He also works with the broader team on changes that may be needed after a briefing walk-through, because a good obstacle setup needs eyes on it from more than one angle.
Ayanda and the people arriving with questions
Ayanda Nxumalo handles participant support, which is the calm voice many people need before an event. He helps with registration queries, group details and the practical side of getting everyone pointed in the right direction. Whether a team is travelling in from Cape Town, Durban or Bloemfontein, or local visitors are arriving from Krugersdorp, he makes sure the information shared is clear and useful.
- Helps groups understand the check-in process
- Supports team captains with day-of coordination
- Guides people towards the right place for warmup, recovery and support
Bianca, Tshepo and the safety side of the challenge
Bianca Khoza leads safety and briefing, and she is the one who makes sure people hear what they need to hear before taking on the course. She handles safety briefings, waiver coordination and the reminders about what to bring, including decent trail shoes, water, sun protection and a change of clothes if the weather turns rough. Participants are also reminded to check with a doctor before hard exercise if they have any health concerns, especially if they have been inactive for a while or are managing a condition.
Tshepo Khumalo prepares training content that helps entrants get race-ready in a practical way. He focuses on bodyweight strength, grip, hill work and pacing, so people can train sensibly for the kind of effort obstacle racing asks for. He keeps the advice grounded, because not everyone starts from the same level and no one needs fancy talk when they are trying to finish a demanding course.
- Safety briefing groups for different start waves
- Waiver coordination before participation
- Training guidance for endurance and obstacle work
Carmen and the corporate side of the field
Carmen Botha manages corporate entries, which suits her organised way of working with teams that want a structured day out of the office. She helps with team registration help, captain communication, heat allocation support and custom team briefing so groups know where to be and when. Her work is especially useful for companies bringing staff from Pretoria, Johannesburg and nearby towns where timing, transport and clear check-in details matter.
She also helps with supporter planning, because not every person at an event is racing and those details need attention too. If a group needs onsite team checkin, recovery area guidance or a team photo moment after the finish, Carmen helps make that part of the day feel orderly and well handled.
The people you notice after the mud dries
Our team is a mix of builders, organisers and practical problem-solvers who know that obstacle course racing asks a lot from people. That is why the work behind the scenes matters so much. We handle the small pieces that affect the whole day, from briefing groups and supporting captains to guiding visitors through the right venue access point and helping teams settle before the first effort starts.
For groups planning a race day in the Magaliesberg, Hekpoort, Hartbeespoort, Rustenburg or further afield, the people behind Punisher are the ones making sure the event feels well prepared. It is hands-on work, and that suits us just fine.