By Bhekisisa Mncube
Durban – The second edition of the Nelson Mandela Marathon, an initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and uMgungundlovu District Municipality, will be broadcast live on SABC 2 for the first time, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs, Nomsa Dube, confirmed today.
The Nelson Mandela Marathon is a legacy race commemorating former President Nelson Mandela’s arrest outside Howick, near Pietermaritzburg, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal on 5 August 1962. The race marks the 51st anniversary of Mandela’s arrest.
The race will take place on 25 August.
The arrest led to the sensational Treason Trial, which resulted in Mandela and the other Rivonia trialists being given life imprisonment.
Mandela spent 27 years in prison, much of it on the notorious Robben Island in Cape Town. Today, Robben Island is a national museum attracting visitors worldwide.
On 11 February 1990, he was released from prison. Mandela was sworn in as the founding president of democratic South Africa on 10 May 1994, following the first all-race election held on 27 April. He retired as president in 1999 after serving one term in office.
“This marathon reflects, in a symbolic way, the gruelling marathon that the former President Mandela had to run to lay the foundation for the democratic and free South Africa that we currently enjoy,” Dube said.
“It serves to rekindle our nation’s special relationship with this great international icon and is a small way of saying 'thank you' for the life well lived in service to humanity.”
According to Dube, the life of Mandela symbolises the triumph of the human spirit over insurmountable odds. In a way, she said, “the marathon symbolises the tenacity and dedication of Mandela in his long walk to freedom”.
The event includes a 10 km and a 42.2 km standard marathon, as well as a 4666.4 mass run/walk tribute to Madiba.
It is estimated that over 10 000 people will participate to honour Madiba. In fact, the whole event has already been coined as a “pilgrimage where everyone starts as an equal and ends as a winner", Dube added.
Dube revealed that the Mandela family, together with ministers, KwaZulu-Natal MECs, and mayors are amongst the many dignitaries support the event.
The offices of Education MEC Senzo Mchunu, Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and Msunduzi Local Municipality mayor, Chris Ndlela confirmed to SAnews that they will take part in the 10 kilometre category of the race.
The race features high profile runners from South Africa and the around the globe. These include the NYC Marathon winner Willie Mtolo and Comrades Marathon veteran Bruce Fordyce.
Dube said the event will also serve to popularise the Mandela Capture Site. President Jacob Zuma unveiled a new iconic sculpture at the site in 2012.
“The race finishes at the site where the Nelson Mandela Museum is housed and is sure to make this site one of the most important history routes in the country.”
The race has been recognised by the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) as a member and the Rotterdam Marathon is considering a twinning relationship which will help market the race worldwide.
The former statesman is currently in a Pretoria hospital where his condition has been described by the Presidency as “critical with steady improvement”. – SAnews.gov.za
