Thousands lace up for Madiba despite the cold

08 September 2015

 

When the cold snap hit before the weekend, I feared for the worst. But my heart warmed up as I saw the number of people taking part in the Kaya FM 67km Relay for Mandela swelling,” said a relieved Mandela Foundation trustee Tokyo Sexwale at the end of the race at Nasrec Expo, south of Johannesburg, on Sunday September 6.

 

Hundreds of professional and occasional runners, walkers and celebrities such as Olympic medallists Hezekiel Sepeng and Josia Thugwane ran 6.7km each to raise funds for the Mandela Foundation. The celebrities also included actor and model Maps Maponyane, who said the cold almost forced him to stay a while longer in bed.

 

“But this is for Madiba. He endured far worse. All we needed to do was man up, lace up, show up and carry forward his baton of hope,” Maponyane said.

 

Sunday’s relay, jointly hosted by Kaya FM and the City of Johannesburg, was the third annual instalment of the event, previously staged in July at the Waterfall Estate. This year, Kaya FM moved it to September to celebrate Heritage Month and former President Nelson Mandela’s legacy. It started and ended at the Nasrec Expo Centre.

 

“Kaya FM and the City of Johannesburg need to be applauded. This year’s event was not as claustrophobic as the two previous ones at the Waterfall Estate. Although it was colder, it was roomier. There was ample parking and we didn’t run into each other as we previously did,” said Kagiso Ditlhake, a participant from Randburg.

 

Said Bongi Mokaba, the City’s Director of Events: “Our association with the Mandela Foundation and Kaya FM is growing from strength to strength. Today’s relay was well-organised and most of the participants were complimentary about the whole setup and organisation.”

Comedian Skhumba was a hit with the ladies, who all wanted to take selfies with him. But fellow relay member and comedian Mpho Pops complained that Skhumba, who was the funnymen’s team captain, spent most of his energy on a boerewors roll than on the race.

 

The University of the North West’s Potchesfstroom Campus team raced to victory and took top honours.

“Everyone was a winner today. Thank you to the Afropolitans who braved the cold and did Madiba proud. The turnout shows that the relay is gaining popularity and aboMkaya are extending the South African giant’s legacy,” said Kaya FM Managing Director Greg Maloka.