Runners took over the Midlands Mandela Day Marathon, whose entries have soared from 17 000 last year to 24 000 this year. The marathon started at Manaye Hall in Edendale, where former President Nelson Mandela made his last public speech on March 25, 1961 and ended at the Mandela Capture Site where he was arrested at Howick.
National Ministers, KwaZulu-Natal MECs and other dignitaries took part, including former President Mandela’s grandson, Mandla.
The winners of the main 42.2km race are Sintayehu Legese Yinesu (Ethiopia) in the men’s category and Loice Jebet (Kenya) in the women’s category. The winners of the 21.1km race are Bernard Bii (Kenya) in the men’s category and Mamorallo Tjoka (Lesotho) in the women’s category.
The second and third in the main 42.2km race are Mabuthile Lebopo (Lesotho) and Mark Oyugu (Kenya), respectively, in the men’s race and Selam Abere Alebachew (Ethiopia) and Tsega Galani Reta (South Africa), respectively, in the women’s race.
Departmental employees also participated in this amazing race.