'We want to ensure that races don't die a slow death' - CGA in talks with Ekurhuleni to lower cost of closing roads for races

For many wishing to oragnise a road running event, especially where the financial muscle of a headline sponsor is absent, the prohibitive costs of road closures can discourage even the most determined of race organisers resulting in the end of a road race even before it has begun. This is particularly true of township races, which in the face of budget constraints often find themselves here one year and gone the next.

Tompa speaking at the launch of the 2024 Thembisa Mile. Photo Credit: Lifutso Mabua.

The Thembisa Mile is the exception to that rule. Founded by Donald Mathipa and his team as an 8km Fun Run back in 2012, the One Mile and 10km event celebrates it's 12th edition on the 27th of October 2024 where the 2020 was the only year in which the race was not staged because of the Covid-19 lockdown. For this remarkable consistency, Mathipa paid tribute to the City of Ekurhuleni's Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture department for their support which means that the cost of closing the busy roads of South Africa's third biggest township to host a safe road running event is less than it would be were Mathipa left to his own devices.

"I'd also like to acknowledge the Department of Sports and Recreation Thembisa Hub," he said during yesterday's (29 August) launch of the 2024 race. "They have been with us since the inception," he said thanking them as Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) Acting President Karabo Mabilo nodded in agreement.

Mathipa (white Thembisa Mile t-shirt) poses with the race's various key stakeholders and sponsors. Photo Credit: Lifutso Mabua.

Mathipa was speaking at the Lenmed Zamokuhle Private Hospital on the northern border of Thembisa where the launch was held. Also in attendance were representatives of the event's sponsors in SPAR, Zamokuhle, Switch Energy Drink, K2M Funerals, Vision View TV and Enock Tompa from the City of Ekurhuleni. Tompa revealed that aside from assisting Mathipa with the race that has hosted the likes of Caster Semenya, Prudence Sekgodišo, Tshepo Tshite and Johan Cronje, they are working towards a long-term solution to make the cost of hosting races more affordable across their city.

"As much as I don't speak on their behalf, I just happen to know the difficulties that they are facing because we come from the same household and are impacted by the same issues. We are pleading with EMPD (Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department) and are working with CGA to have something long lasting that can ensure that races don't die a slow death and that races don't die before they are born. Such races like the Thembisa Mile are races that ensure that at the grassroots we are able to see our kids progress to the world stage, like we did during the current Olympics that were taking place in France," he said referring to 1500m athlete and Thembisa Mile course record holder Ryan Mphahlele a product of the Thembisa Athletic Club who recently became the first born and bred Thembisan to compete at the Olympic Games.

Tompa's commitment will bring comfort to many other race organisers who have the safety of runners top of mind when they design race routes. The same thinking is what drove Mathipa and his team to relocate the #RunningParty from the Moses Molelekwa Arts Centre on the busy Andrew Mapheto Drive (also known as Straight Line) to the the Olifantsfontein Sports Ground in Olifantsfontein where the race will now start and finish.

Entries available online at www.thembisamile.co.za or www.peaktiming.co.za and will close at midnight on Wednesday, 23 October 2024 or when the maximum race capacity has been reached. The race is open to a total of 3000 participants. Participants will be able to collect their race numbers at the race EXPO which will be held from 25 to 27 October at the race venue.