The City of Johannesburg has thrown its full weight behind the annual MTN Walk the Talk with 702, promising a full basket of services through its departments and entities to ensure the event is successful.
The leisurely walk is scheduled for Sunday, 28 July at Marks Park Sports Club in leafy Emmarentia.
It is organised under the auspices of the City in partnership with multinational telecommunications corporation, MTN, and Primedia broadcaster – Talk Radio 702. The event caters for walkers of all fitness levels and abilities.
There’s a 25km walk for democracy, a 15km walk winding through some of Joburg’s iconic landmarks, an 8km walk that goes through the leafy suburbs around Emmarentia, and a 5km fun walk for the whole family and their canine friends.
The safety of participants is paramount to the City, that’s why the Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, has sanctioned the closure of several arterial roads from 4 am until 2 pm.
Title sponsor, MTN says Walk the Talk provides participants with a chance to enjoy being outdoors laughing with strangers, appreciating South Africa’s diversity, and forming part of a community that celebrates how far it has come.
The event dovetails with the City’s objective to promote a culture of healthier lifestyles and foster social cohesion. Entries for the 18th edition of the walk are officially open, as the event commemorates 25 years of South Africa’s democracy.
“To walk for 25 years of democracy is something special. All Joburgers should join in to ensure that we celebrate our democracy in style,” says the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Dr Ntombi Khumalo.
The special 25km walk extends beyond iconic landmarks such as the Nelson Mandela Bridge and Constitution Hill and will take walkers past the Johannesburg Zoo, the Anglo Boer War Memorial and Zoo Lake. It’ll break off onto Oxford Road from the 15km and carry on alongside the M1 into Forest Town.
“The experience of being on this once-off route will be one that no Joburgers wants to miss out on,” says Khumalo.
Walk the Talk is the world’s biggest walking event, with over 50 000 participants. Entries are limited and close on Wednesday, 5 June. For information and queries, contact The Walk Office here http://www.walkthetalk.co.za/ 
