First-ever Dr Mathews Phosa half-marathon a great success

As a way to honour the first premier of Mpumalanga, the Mpumalanga NPO Association held a successful Dr Mathews Phosa Half-marathon on Saturday February 24 in White River.

This event had a jam-packed programme that started on Friday February 23 with a media briefing at the Hotel 247 @ White River, which South Africa’s football legends such as Mark Fish, Portia Modise, Edward Motale, Jerry Sikhosana and Willard Katsande attended. Afterwards, these legends visited some local orphanages and activation events were held.

Various community projects benefited from these events, including early childhood development (ECD) centres, athletes with disabilities, and organisations leading the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

Phosa said the marathon has allowed him to participate in purposeful community upliftment projects that will make a difference in various communities. “This was a noble purpose to uplift people and give them a better life. This is really a dramatic way to start the journey of the marathon, as it attracted runners from all over the country and the SADC countries. We are definitely going bigger and better in the next one,” he said.

The marathon’s organiser, the Mpumalanga NPO Association’s secretary general, Sipho Zitha, said he appreciates the support they received. “I wish to express my gratitude to the Bella’s Athletics Club’s executive management, all athletics clubs for their sterling work and a job well done in ensuring that the race became a success. We thank Edward Motale for organising the soccer legends to join the athletes in honouring Dr Mathews Phosa and donating school shoes to orphanages.

We greatly appreciate Education, Training and Development Practices Seta for their donation to persons with disabilities and SA Men First and Sodic Training Development for their
donations to victims and survivors of GBVF and the training of ECD practitioners respectively. Phatsema Projects donated R20 000 for refreshments, and Phosa Legacy donated R100 000 for event co-ordination administrative purposes.

Kitso Hospitality Group transported the soccer legends. Rob Ferreira High School’s SGB and principal, Dawie Oberholzer, provided the venue, Hi-Tech Medical Services provided emergency
medical services, and Ndabezitha Human Capital provided bookkeeping services and volunteers for marshalling.” The 21.1km female and male winners each received R10 000. R5 000 was awarded for second places and R3 500 for third places. The 10km male and female winners, second-place and third- place runners received R6 000, R3 500 and R2 000
respectively.

The winners for the male 21km are Lungelo Khumalo in first place, Simon Mokonyama in second place and Siboniso Sikhakhane in third. Amos Nkosi took first place in the 21km for persons
with disabilities.

In the 21km male category, Ntuthuko Maseko took first place in the 40+, Moris Maiga took first place in the 50+ and Nehemiah Mtsweni took first
place in the 60+ category.

The winners for the female 21km category were Rosaline Isaiah in first place, Gladys Cheruiyot in second place and Rebecca Makuwa in third. In the 21km 40+, Gladys Cheruiyot took first place, Lindiwe Mdluli took first place in the 50+ and Estelle Bullen took first place in the 60+ category.

In the 10km male race, Siyabonga Ndlovu got first place, Abednico Mashaba took second place and Samuel Mathabatha took third place. In the 10km female category, Farida Zwane took first place, Zanele Sehohle took second place and Nomvula Sithole got third place. In the 10km 40+ category, Chantel Middelbovee took first place, in the 50+category, Charmaine Adendorff took first
place and in the 60+, Ethel Badenhorst got first place.