A BIGGER AND BETTER MANDELA WALK PROMISED
NELSON Mandela’s centenary celebrations will come to a rousing end in Pretoria, Tshwane, on December 9 when thousands of South Africans will again gather for the annual Mandela Remembrance Walk And Run.
Hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, together with the Gauteng province, this year’s event will begin and end at the Union Buildings.
Nearly 20 000 people participated in last year’s remembrance walk and run and over 30 000 people are expected to attend this year.
The walk will be held alongside the Nelson Mandela Liberation Route, a significant tourist attraction.
It will be the last official event of Madiba’s centenary year, bringing to an end a memorable commemoration programme that paid tribute to the legacy and heritage of the great statesman in a befitting manner.
This year’s remembrance walk and run will see the introduction of a 21 km half marathon, together with a 5 km walk and a 10 km run.
“We want to thank all South Africans and the global community for the warm, wonderful manner in which they’ve embraced the Mandela centenary celebrations. It’s been a phenomenal, humbling year which has paid fitting tribute to Madiba’s legacy and we want to encourage people from all walks of life to come out in their thousands to end this centenary year by participating in the Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run, ” said Sello Hatang, CEO of The Nelson Mandela Foundation.
“The Gauteng province is honoured to have played a central role in former president Nelson Mandela’s centenary celebrations this year. Madiba lived his life in service to a free and equal society for all and we will again be doing the remembrance walk and run to honour his commitment to justice, equality and a non-racial South Africa. We are urging people to come out in huge numbers to be part of this very special event,” said Faith Mazibuko, Gauteng MEC for sports, arts, culture and recreation.
Entry is R50 for the 5km walk, R100 for the 10km run and R150 for the 21km run, which will have nominal winner’s prize money of R5 000 for the elite runners in each age and gender category taking on the 10kms and half marathon route.
Participants for the walk and run can enter online on www.mandelawalkandrun.com.
They can also enter at:
● Sweatshop Centurion & Dunkeld
● Runaway Sports – Pretoria
● Orlando Community Centre – Johannesburg
● Pilditch Stadium – Pretoria The start times are 7am for the 21km race, 8am for the 10km run and 9am for the 5km walk.
There will be a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the former president at 8.15am.
The event’s parking/park and ride plan is as follows:
● Park and ride – Pilditch Stadium
● Park and walk – Pretoria Art Museum
● Parking – On the streets in the vicinity of the Union Buildings where the streets are not closed off.
All proceeds raised will be donated to The Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Other sponsors for the Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run are the City of Tshwane, ASPEN Pharma Care, Lotto, Jacaranda FM and Independent Media.
For more details and to register for the event go to www.Mandelawalkandrun.com.