Over 400 police officers lace up running shoes for Comrades Marathon
KwaZulu-Natal's police commissioner said they're not the only officers on the route, as hundreds more have been deployed to ensure safety and security.
ALSO READ:
- Police presence in KZN beefed up for Comrades Marathon
- KZN Treasury banking on Comrades Marathon to give local tourism a boost
The 98th edition of the ultra-marathon began at 06:45 on Sunday morning, marking the down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
The race in 2025 features over 22,000 runners - the largest number of participants in its history.
Provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has also urged racers to remain cautious.
'As you enjoy running, make sure you don't increase the number of casualties that end up in hospital because of negligence. We have medical facilities in the province, but we don't want to use them unnecessarily. We want runners to arrive safe.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Gerda Steyn: South Africa's road running star
Gerda Steyn, South Africa's leading road running star and multiple Comrades and Two Oceans Marathon champion, is training for a major race, likely the Cape Town Marathon as the year winds Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers If there's one name that is synonymous with SA road running at the moment, it has to be Gerda Steyn. The 35-year-old is at the peak of her powers and is the undisputed Queen of SA road running, and has been for some time. The four-time Comrades Marathon and six-time Two Oceans Marathon champion is always the favourite when she lines up in a race in South Africa when it's 42km and above. The Smiling Assassin also competes strongly for South Africa when she competes abroad, having also held the SA record in the marathon until recently when Glenrose Xaba set the new mark in October 2024. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Steyn's Phenomenal Speed and Endurance: From 5km to 90km Success Still, the fact that Steyn can compete with the best runners in the country in any distance from 5km to 90km is nothing short of phenomenal. It's also the reason why she's been so successful; Steyn has the speed to go with that endurance. That's why Steyn has been so prolific since she burst onto the scene with her first Two Oceans title in 2018.
The Citizen
02-08-2025
- The Citizen
Young Ava hopes to cross Comrades finish line
In her first full CGA cross-country season, Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC) youngster Ava Brits is already turning heads. The promising eight-year-old has been making a strong impression in the U8 1km races since her debut at the second league meeting in Kagiso, showing speed, determination and hard work; clear signs of a future star in the making. Whether navigating tricky, slippery corners or powering up hills, Ava, named cross-country runner of the year by her school last year, is proving that passion and performance matter more than age. 'I've always loved running. I was inspired by my dad, who I always watched as he trained for the Comrades Marathon. I often do 5km runs with him,' she said. Although she often feels nervous at the start line, the Ridgewood College Grade Two learner has consistently finished in the top five of her races. She opened her season with a 06:05 for fourth place, followed by 05:56 in the third league in Dobsonville. She clocked 04:35 in league four in Daveyton before a season's best 04:28 in the last league meeting of the season in Brakpan on July 26. 'I enjoy running in the CGA leagues against boys because it's a lot harder than just competing with girls my age. My dad always motivates me by telling me to run my own race.' While many young athletes draw inspiration from professional sports stars, Ava looks up to her Comrades Marathon-running father. 'I love training with him because he always pushes me and reminds me of how good I am. He also tells me to believe in myself and most importantly, to have fun,' she said. Among her big dreams is one close to her heart: completing the Comrades Marathon one day. 'I want to run the Comrades when I'm big. This year I crossed the finish line with my dad in my BNAC kit. It was the best feeling in the world.' Also Read: Sawyer wins race in second cross country league Also Read: Madlabane's winning streak ends
The Citizen
25-07-2025
- The Citizen
Junior cycling trio from Ballito dominate Amashova race
Young Ballito cyclists Josh Johnson and Madison Bateson led the charge at Sunday's Amashova National Classic, each taking top honours in their age categories over 106km. Daniel van der Watt (21), also from Ballito, cruised to the men's 132km title in 3:24:00 to give the North Coast three winners on the day. Johnson (17) claimed the U19 title in a fiercely contested field, while Bateson (15) powered to victory in the U17 division with an excellent time of 2:54:07 in Durban. Johnson clocked in his winning time at 02:18:10, earning the junior yellow jersey and R1 500 in prize money. Johnson also placed an impressive fifth overall out of 1 457 male riders. The Amashova, one of South Africa's most renowned road races, challenges cyclists with a demanding route inspired by the Comrades Marathon. This year, more than 3 500 riders competed across four distances – 38km, 65km, 106km and 132km – as part of the race's 39th edition. The race started at Pietermaritzburg City Hall, winding through the Midlands and Valley of a Thousand Hills before finishing under the Masabalala Yengwa Pedestrian Bridge in Durban. 'Winning the age group race is a good outcome,' said Johnson. This marked Johnson's first race against South Africa's elite riders since returning from Europe. Although he narrowly missed an overall podium finish, he was pleased with his performance. 'A strong pace was set early to test the rest of the field. I wanted to make a move but mistimed it, so I settled into the following bunch and aimed for a podium position.' Johnson, who also won the U17 Amashova title in 2023, recently became the first African rider to join the prestigious U19 development team of World Tour outfit Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Home-schooled and regularly training in Europe, Johnson credits his family and friends for their unwavering support in helping him achieve his goals. 'Road racing has given me the opportunity to turn my passion into a career, and I am determined to make it to the highest level,' he said. Errin Mackridge (18) – Another Ballito DriveTrain Academy rider – also impressed, finishing second in the women's U19 106km category in a time of 2:57:20. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
