The pulse of Joburg slowed to a less frantic pace as thousands of runners descended on the inner city for the Absa Run Your City Joburg 10km race at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newton, on Heritage Day, Saturday 24 September 2022.
Young and old participants braved the scorching sun as the streets of Joburg were painted in red outfits as men, women and children trotted steadily down the streets.
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development, Cllr Ronald Harris, set off the starting gun of the annual race, which aims to celebrate the city’s iconic landmarks and scenic sites.
Spectators came out in numbers, with some shouting encouragements from the balconies of their flats. Traffic in the opposite direction of the highway came to a standstill as motorists hooted and waved to the participants.
Cllr Harris heaped praise on the race organisers for bringing together to tackle a common pursuit.
“The City supports the Absa Run Your City Joburg 10km race and the partnership with Absa because it augments social cohesion and brings communities back to the central business district. It also helps restore the inner city to its former glory as well as contribute to active living and a healthy lifestyle,” said Cllr Harris.
The race is back after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 and navigates through the street of Joburg. It had close to 13 500 participants. It showcases the work the city is undertaking through the Inner City Partnership Forum to revitalise the city and ensure that the inner city attracts investment from the private sector.
The route took participants through Newtown, past the Market Theatre, Braamfontein through the iconic Mandela Bridge including the M1 South carriageway from Carr Street on ramp towards M2 East Joe Slovo Drive offramp and Marshalltown.
While handing out prizes, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, thanked the participants for making the race the biggest 10km race in the country.
“As the Multi-Party Government, we are proactively working with inner city stakeholders and other spheres of government to give the inner city back its golden shine. We are reclaiming our inner city. We want it to be the work, play and living hub of the city,” Cllr Phalatse said.
One of the participants, 49-year-old Ouma Dhlamini, said: “Today, I’m walking in the streets of Joburg and it’s beautiful to see the work being done to make the city clean and safe. I’m happy to be part of this race again. We love our inner city, and we expect the city to create opportunities to make our beautiful city great again.”
INFO SUPPLIED
