Mike, as he is affectionately called, inscribed his name in canoeing records when he and Martin Dreyer won the famous and gruelling Stihl Non-Stop Dusi Canoeing Marathon. The marathon, covering a stretch of 120km in one day, is considered the world’s toughest.
His victory was historic because he became the first black paddler to win this arduous marathon. Mbanjwa and Dreyer clocked seven hours, 47 minutes and 40 seconds, shaving off seven seconds from the record previously set by John and Andrew Edmonds in 2000.
Canoeing enthusiasts were not surprised by his victory because he finished second in the three-day Hansa Powerade Dusi, two weeks before the big marathon.
Mbanjwa passed through the hands of a skilled veteran canoe coach, Robert Lembethe, who boasted 17 canoe marathons before he died in 2006. Lembethe formed the Nagle Dam and Midmar Dam clubs, which produced Mbanjwa and his friend Loveday Zondi, who came third in the 2005 Dusi. Mbanjwa said he was eternally indebted to Lembethe and dedicated his victory to his memory.
Both paddlers have since relocated to Gauteng and have teamed up with an Ekurhuleni-based canoeing club. They, too, are determined to produce their own super paddlers and when time allows they impart their skills to young canoe enthusiasts in the area.
How old are you?
I am 24 years old.
How do you earn your living?
I am a professional canoeist and I have companies that support me with almost everything I need.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu-Natal. My upbringing was completely rural with very little money for food and other necessities.
Which primary school did you attend?
Phangindawo Primary School in the village of KwaNyavu between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
And which secondary school?
Masijabule High School where I did grade eight to 12. It is in the same village as the primary school.
Tertiary?
I attended the University of Johannesburg for one year to do sport management.
Did you have a favourite teacher?
Miss Ndlovu, who taught English in grade 11 and 12.
Why were you so fond of her?
She was very active and very friendly, which made things easy for learners to approach her if they had difficulties or were left behind.
How did she influence you?
The fact that she knew her subject well influenced me to do everything I liked with similar passion. She loved the fact that I was involved in canoeing, which was a new thing in our village.
Do you still have contact with her?
Although I don’t see her often I do make time to see her and talk with her when I am home.
What were your favourite subjects and why?
Maths and English, because the teachers who taught them were passionate.
From your point of view, what are the qualities of a good teacher?
Firstly, I think a good teacher must know his or her subject very well and must believe that his or her learners can excel. A good teacher must also be confident, because that confidence is reflected in his or her learners. A good teacher must not treat all the learners in the same way, because they do not have the same capabilities – some learn fast, others are slow.
What message do you have for teachers in South Africa?
To all the teachers out there, I would like to say keep up all the good work. Without you guys this country would go backward.