Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run: Thousands to end Mandela Centenary celebrations in fine style

(From left: Martin Bester, Jacaranda FM; Ivor Hoff, Acting HOD Gauteng SACR; Ms Faith Mazibuko, MEC SACR; Kgothatso Montjane; Sello Hatang, CEO Nelson Mandela Foundation; Carol Tshabalala; Jackie Tau, Group-Man: Corporate Social Invest, Strategic Trade Development; Jermaine Craig, Independent Media Sports. Photo credit: Optimize Agency

Hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, together with the Gauteng Province, this year’s event will begin and end at the magnificent Union Buildings and will be a fun day out for the whole family.

Nearly 20,000 people participated in last year’s extremely successful 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, which boasts various heritage sites linked to the former President’s political history.

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 in 2018.

This year’s Remembrance Walk and Run will see the introduction of a 21km half-marathon, together with a 5km walk and a 10km run.

Hon. Premier David Makhura at MandelaRWR 2017 5km walk. Photo credit: Optimize Agency

“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. This event has become a huge highlight on the South African calendar and we are confident this one will be the best yet,” 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 Ms Faith Mazibuko, Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

Participants of last year's event celebrating Mandela’s life and legacy. Photo credit: Optimize Agency

Entry fee 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. All participants will receive drawstring bags from Lotto containing a Lotto shirt, cap and some more event goodies.

There will be loads of entertainment for the kids and childminders will be available to look after them. There will also be food stalls, a music concert on the lawns for which an exciting line-up will soon be announced, fitness and boxing displays and plenty of fun for all.

Race numbers for the run will include chip timing for the pro runners.

Participants for the walk and run can enter online on www.walkandrun.com.

They can also enter manually at:

• Sweatshop Centurion & Dunkeld
  
• Runaway Sports – Pretoria
  
• Orlando Community Centre – Johannesburg
  
• Pilditch Stadium – Pretoria

The start times for the 21km race is 7am, the 10km run is 8am and the 5km walk is 9am. There will be a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the former president taking place at 8:15am.

The event’s Parking/Park & Ride Plan is as follows:

• Park & Ride – Pilditch Stadium
  
• Park & Walk – Pretoria Art Museum
  
• Parking – On the streets in the vicinity of the Union Buildings where the streets are not closed off.

Just some of the highlights of spectacular Mandela Centenary Year celebrations were the annual Mandela Lecture addressed by former United States President Barack Obama, the NBA Africa Game between Team Africa and Team World, Barcelona’s game against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium, the unveiling of a Madiba Statue at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as well as the upcoming Global Citizen festival at which the likes of Beyonce and Jay Z and a host of local and international stars will perform.

Now, all Gauteng residents and beyond are encouraged to register to participate in the Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run to end off an unforgettable year in the best possible fashion.

All proceeds raised from the entry fees are donated to The Nelson Mandela Foundation to continue with the work the foundation does to preserve and promote Madiba’s legacy. 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 event details and to register for the event go to www.MandelaWalkAndRun.com.

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