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The People's Race takes in some of Soweto's most famous landmarks, and some
of its hot new developments. The race is taking place this weekend and
registration is still open.
A group of runners goes through the finish line at the 2006 Soweto marathon
R
OUTES chosen for the annual Nedbank Soweto Marathon will take runners past
some of the township's heritage sites, adding to the glamour of the race.
Popularly known as the People's Race, it is South Africa's richest standard
marathon. It takes place on Sunday, 4 November, and starts and ends at Elkah
Stadium, in Moroka. The race has a total prize purse of R806 700.
The runners will race past the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in
Kliptown, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela's house, and Jabulani Mall.
"Participants in the Nedbank Soweto Marathon will get a closer view of the
changing face of Soweto as they inch their way along the 42,2km race," says
Nthatisi Modingoane, the City's media liaison officer.
From the starting line, they will climb steadily towards Kliptown's Freedom
Square, where the famous Freedom Charter was signed half a century ago. It is
officially known as the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, and is the site of
the new four-star Holiday Inn Soweto.
The square is a national monument and a magnet of new developments, such as a
housing project. It also attracts small, medium and micro businesses, bringing
much-needed economic development.
The route then heads towards the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, on
Potchefstroom Road. This is the largest hospital of its kind in the southern
hemisphere, and is named after John Albert Baragwanath and the assassinated
leader, Chris Hani.
The hospital is currently undergoing an overhaul, with R2-billion already
injected into its upgrading; it is scheduled for completion by 2010. Some
R7-billion has also been earmarked for new facilities in the next 10 years.
Further along, "the Soweto Cooling Towers will be firmly in the sight of
runners", Modingoane says, adding that the iconic landmark has been merged with
the old Power Station, the Orlando Dam, and the Sontonga Koppie into a
R1-billion Orlando Ekhaya Project.
"[This is] an exciting mix of retail, office, residential, entertainment and
recreation spaces," he confirms.
As the route moves further down through to its halfway mark, it will pass by
the newly opened R615-million Maponya Mall, a new stop in the country's shopping
cult. The complex boasts shopping and entertainment facilities.
"Every step of the way continues on tarred roads, a far cry away from the
dusty roads that have been associated with the Soweto of the past."
Mamarolla Tjoka of Lesotho will be the defending women's champion on Sunday
Runners will also go through Diepkloof, where a R10-million construction
project tailored to replace old hostels with double-storey family units, is
under way. It is one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ legacy projects.
"Opposite the hostel, a brand new development is taking shape – the Soweto
Empowerment Zone. Here, an industrial park is being constructed to promote and
formalise the development of small, medium and micro businesses based in
Soweto."
Passing through Meadowlands, racers will notice trees planted under the
City's ambitious plan to Green Soweto by 2010. "More than 200 000 new trees will
be planted in the city by 2010, while grass is being planted on all soccer
fields and open spaces," he notes.
The halfway mark is in Orlando West, on Mncube Drive. Runners will pass the
Mandela Museum, Nelson Mandela's old home, on Vilakazi Street; it attracts at
least 120 000 local and international visitors a year. Two Nobel laureates have
lived on this street - Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mandela.
Tutu is still a resident. His house is painted white, with blue and greyish
outside walls. The tidy garden is planted with shrubs and trees. The Mandela
home is a matchbox house comprising four inter-leading rooms that contain
memorabilia belonging to him and his former wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Her present home is also on the route. There are security cameras at the gate
and at the corners of the high walls, as well as bullet-proof windows.
From there, the route takes runners past the Hector Pieterson Memorial and
Museum. The museum is two blocks away from where the young Hector was shot, on
the corner of Moema and Vilakazi streets. Pieterson was one of the first
casualties of the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976, when over 500 schoolchildren
were killed following protests over the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of
instruction in township schools.
The 40km mark is in Jabulani. From here the route passes Koma Road, a newly
constructed four-lane carriageway that will link Dobsonville with Potchefstroom
Road.
The Nedbank Soweto Marathon is endorsed by the City and the theme this year
is Championing change. It is now in its 16th year, and is sponsored by Athletics
South Africa, Nedbank, SABC, and Proudly South African.
There are four categories in the race: the 42,2km race, which starts at 6am,
is reserved for athletes of 20 years and older, as is the 20km walk, which
starts at 7.30am. To take part in the 10km wheelchair race, participants must be
15 years and older, while those taking part in the 5km fun run must be nine
years and older.
The 10km wheelchair race begins at 6am at a separate starting point; the 5km
fun run starts at the same place at 7.40am.
The male and female winners of the 42,2km race will each pocket R100 000;
second and third placed will take home R80 000 and R60 000, respectively.
Winners of the 20km race will win R5 000 each; second place will get R3 500 and
third will pocket R3 000.
Entries close on Saturday, 3 November, although entries for the 5km fun run
will still be open on the day of the marathon.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service has confirmed that the weather
on the day will be perfect, with no rain expected to hamper the People's Race.
The minimum temperature will be 13°C, with a maximum of 24°C. The weather will
be partly cloudy becoming cloudy with moderate winds moving northeasterly.
In Soweto, expect to meet people who are "very positive, optimistic, stylish
and [who] have an exuberant sense of comrade for each other", says Hapiloe
Sello, the general manager of marketing and communications at the Johannesburg
Tourism Company.
Sello refutes perceptions that Soweto is dangerous. "When you come to the
township, come with a friend so that they will be able to show you around,
because signage is fairly limited, but we are working on it. This is not a
dangerous place," she notes, adding that Soweto is the third most visited place
in the country.
Soweto, an acronym for South Western Townships, was founded in 1904. In the
1950s it was the apartheid government's dumping ground for black people evicted
from their homes in suburbs the state wanted to turn white. Its people speak
nine of the country's 11 languages.
Entrance for all the races is R5, and participants will get T-shirts and
goody bags. Medals will be awarded to all race and walk finishers. To enter the
Nedbank Soweto Marathon, or for further information, contact Athletics South
Africa on 011 880 5800 or email
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