Soweto Marathon Tragedy: Runner Dies Weeks After Being Hit By Taxi On Race Route

The South African running community is grieving the loss of Dezirée du Plessis, a 45-year-old runner from Pretoria who died in hospital on Friday morning following a tragic accident at last month’s Soweto Marathon.

Du Plessis, a mother of two, was struck by a taxi while competing in the annual race on 29 November. She was rushed for emergency surgery after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage and remained in a critical condition for weeks.

Despite intensive medical care, she never recovered from her injuries.

Family Confirms Death After Weeks of Hospitalisation

Her sister, Marijke Miller, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a social media post.

“Dezzi breathed her last breath this morning and completed her race. She fought to the end but went soft and peaceful,” Miller wrote on Facebook.

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The post prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow runners and supporters who had followed Du Plessis’ battle for survival since the accident.

Fundraising Efforts Continue as Memorial Planned

While Du Plessis was hospitalised, a BackaBuddy campaign was launched to assist with mounting medical costs, raising more than R330,000.

In addition, a fundraising fun run scheduled for Saturday at the Run-A-Way Sport store in Pretoria is expected to go ahead, but will now take place as a memorial event in her honour.

The taxi driver involved in the incident was previously arrested on charges of reckless and negligent driving. He was reportedly suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and is alleged to have ignored metro police officers who had denied him access to the marathon route.

The incident has renewed concerns around runner safety during major road races.

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