"The current state of athletics in the Vaal is quite disheartening" - Fortress Evaton Run inspires local coaches
- Mosibodi Whitehead
- 22 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Set against the backdrop of economic hardship and unemployment, organisers of the 2026 Fortress Evaton Run have described the event which takes place at the Evaton Plaza as inspiring for its commitment to taking the sport of athletics to the people.
Backed by Fortress Real Estate Investments, which owns 41 convenience and commuter-oriented retail shopping centres across South Africa, the Fortress Running Series continues on its drive to bring well- organised road running events to rural and peri-urban communities, providing the platform for participants to showcase their athletic talent, while encouraging young and old to adopt healthy lifestyles.
After successful events in Venda and Vryheid, the third stop of this four-race series is taking place in Evaton, just outside of Vereeniging, on Sunday 2 August 2026. Hosted by the ISMO Athletic Club in collaboration with the local Future Champions Athletic Club, the event is expected to draw hundreds of participants from the greater Sedibeng District Municipality. Abram Tladi, who is the founder and head coach of Future Champions Athletics Club, is confident that the Evaton Run will breathe new life into athletics in the area.
“The current state of athletics in the Vaal in general and Evaton in particular is quite disheartening,” Tladi admits. “For example, there are no clubs in Evaton except for Future Champions which indicates a lack of interest in athletics in the community. Schools are also unable to provide adequate support to promote this sport amongst their learners. I hope that by hosting this series in Evaton, Fortress will inspire our children to engage in athletics.”
Tladi’s admission is a source of motivation for Israel Morake who is the founder of both the ISMO Athletics Club and the Fortress Running Series. Born and bred in the remote Eastern Cape town of Sterkspruit, the 1992 Two Oceans Marathon Champion and Comrades Marathon gold medallist started the series in partnership with Fortress as an answer to the athletics development challenges that coaches like Tladi face.
Assisted by veteran athletics administrator Dora Mngwevu and 1996 Olympic 800m silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng, Morake leads a multi-disciplinary team whose core mandate is to develop the sport by inspiring and activating rural athletics talent. It is for this reason that each event is preceded by an athletics coaching clinic at a local school, where Sepeng uses his years of world class experience to identify talent and reinvigorate local coaches.
“It is very important for kids to be active because it supports healthy growth, improves brain function and has social benefits because kids are able to play with their peers. The Fortress Running Series has always encouraged participation from local schools as part of community engagement and athletics development. It is no different in 2026. We will continue with the 5km event at our races which is mainly for schools and the community,” Sepeng explained.
Therefore, the return of the Fortress Evaton Run which was won by SA Marathon Record Holder Elroy Gelant back in 2023, is an opportunity that Tladi and his athletes simply cannot miss.
“Running an athletics club is often quite challenging, mainly because we generally do not receive adequate support from the parents and the community at large. Moreover, even those who do join our team often lose hope due to their inability to attend competitions because of financial constraints. So it is truly inspiring for local clubs to be involved in such a magnificent initiative. I truly hope that this relationship will continue to flourish for many years to come.”
The Fortress Running Series is just one of many ways in which Fortress continues to give back to its customers. Vuso Majija, Executive Director of Fortress Retail, said, "Fortress has always believed that our shopping centres should be more than places to shop. They should be spaces where communities come together. We want to see local runners, young and old, participating in the race, and we’re proud to partner with ISMO and Future Champions as they build the next generaBon of athletes in this community."
“These races embody our commitment to supporting the communities surrounding the areas where we operate our shopping centres. We put our customers first by providing a safe shopping and lifestyle space. Our centres play an important role in our customers’ lives: we offer convenience, value for money and improve their quality of life by bringing modern services closer to them.”