It’s the Nedbank Soweto Marathon this weekend. Now is your chance to see the changes taking place in Joburg's most famous township.
THE annual Nedbank Soweto Marathon – popularly known as the People’s Race – takes place on Sunday, 1 November.
Vilakazi Street in Soweto
More than 8 000 athletes have already registered to take part in the race, now entering its 18th year.
Some of the big names in athletics will be taking to the streets of the famous township, including international marathoners Lebenya Nkoka, Teboho Sello and Mabuthile Lebopo from Lesotho and Oliver Kandiero from Zimbabwe.
Sello won the 2007 race and came in second in the 2008 marathon.
“Soweto is without a doubt one of the best known places in South Africa and events such as this marathon confirm and re-affirm its reputation,” according to the City’s executive mayor, Amos Masondo.
The route will see runners pass a number of the City’s 2010 legacy projects: projects linked to and extending beyond Johannesburg’s role in hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
Included in these projects are the renovations of the Diepkloof Hostels, which have seen the buildings change from being single-sex hostels into family units, and the construction of the routes for the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit, the City’s innovative public transport project to move people across Johannesburg as efficiently, effectively and affordably as possible.
Runners will be able to see the greening and development of open spaces in Soweto. A recent addition to the Soweto landscape is the Orlando West Regional Park, set up by City Parks in September.
On Vilakazi Street, they will pass the homes of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This is the only place in the world that can claim that two Nobel Prize laureates share the same street address.
Soweto's green streets
Other landmarks on the route include the Hector Pieterson Museum, Oppenheimer Tower, Kliptown and Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication, Morris Isaacson High School and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
Masondo emphasised that the City was aiming to position Joburg as a sporting destination of choice. “We will always endeavour to further broaden the City’s involvement in the different sporting codes. This includes cricket, rugby, athletics, cycling, soccer and many others.”
He hoped the Soweto marathon would “inspire more and more young people in Johannesburg to become involved in sporting activities – be it athletics, soccer, swimming, tennis, or any sporting code of their choice”.
The race
“It’s all systems go,” says the general manager of Athletics South Africa (ASA), Molatelo Malehopo, on the preparations for the event.
“We are looking forward to having one of the most successful Soweto marathons ever,” he adds.
The marathon will start and end at the MTN Expo Centre in Nasrec. The starter’s gun fires at 6am.
On the day, Johannesburg’s metro police officials and emergency management services will be deployed along the routes to ensure the safety of the runners.
The race is aptly called the People’s Race, enticing both professional athletes and weekend runners to take part.
Several categories cater for the different levels of expertise and fitness.
There is a 42,2km race, which starts at 6am for athletes of 20 years and older; a 10km walk starting at 6.40am; a 10km race for able-bodied athletes, starting at 6.30am; a 10km wheelchair race starting at 6.20am; and a 5km fun run for participants of nine years and older, starting at 8am.
This year’s total of prize money is over R800 000.
The male and female winners in the 42,2km race will collect R100 000 each, while first and second runners up in both the male and female categories will each take home R80 000 and R60 000, respectively.
Winners in each of the 10km categories will go home with a purse of R5 000.
Those still wanting to enter for the marathon can go online or call 011 880 5800.
Entrance for the 42,2km marathon is R85; R46 for the 10km categories; and R15 for the 5km fun run. Entrance is free for athletes older than 60 years.
T-shirts, medals and goody bags will be handed out.
Participants must collect their race numbers between 9am and 7pm from Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on 26 and 27 October, ASA Office in Houghton on 28 and 29 October, and the MTN Expo Centre on 30 and 31 October.
