Khwela and Mtolo join hands for star-studded Dusi Canoe Marathon

This year’s Dusi Canoe Marathon (K2- doubles) from Pietermaritzburg to Durban is expected to be a star-studded affair and the attention will definitely be on the last K2 winners Andy Birkett and Matthew Fenn (2024). The experienced Birkett won the 2025 K1 (Singles) event and in second place was the familiar face veteran Sbonelo Khwela. In 2024 the “Valley Combination” of Khwela and Msawenkosi Mtolo finished in second place behind Birkett and Fenn.

They gave it their all from day one only to lose dramatically on the final day. Despite leading after day one, the duo were runners-up on day two after losing time due to a boat issue on the rocks and also somehow fumbling on day three below Gauging Weir. Both paddlers agreed that their mistake on the last day did not cost them time, but a chance to take the first position or to beat the untouchable and evergreen Birkett and his partner Fenn.

On Wednesday Mtolo confirmed to The Witness that although many people expected him to paddle with his younger brother, Sandile, he decided to pair up with Khwela in order to apply their different strategies and experience in the race. In fact there’s nothing wrong or personal reasons, we both just thought we badly need this one and we all believe we need the experience, the fitness and the long service to produce something unique. He said they are going to take part in this year’s Dusi with one goal — to be overall winners.

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“I won’t say our target is only the Two Musketeers [Birkett and Fenn], but we want to outrun and out paddle all the participants in order to be the overall winners. The tricky part about it is that you need to beat Birkett and Fenn to become first,” he said. Mtolo said they both finished on podium positions many times before and their knowledge about the Dusi Canoe marathon should take them through.

“We both believe in ourselves and we also believe together we are strong. We are well versed about the event and took part in it for many years. It is also a high time for us to make history for our communities and for ourselves,” said Mtolo.

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