Mbombela’s Athletics Club, Bella’s had its inaugural GBV Run
The theme of the race was "Stop GBV", particularly fitting for this Women's Month, and emphasised the growing need to bring awareness to the country's plight.
Following a protracted wait beginning in 2021, the eagerly anticipated inaugural GBV Race finally took place on Saturday August 13.
The theme of the race was “Stop GBV”, particularly fitting for Women’s Month, and emphasised the growing need to bring awareness to the country’s plight.
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There was a candlelight ceremony to pay respect to those who have passed away due to the GBV scourge.
Bella’s Athletic Club also paid special tribute to Tebogo Mabunda’s family and awarded them race medals as a token of their condolences.
Tebogo was shot and killed by her ex-cop husband, Mugiyo Ulrich Mabunda, outside their house in Stonehenge in May 2020.
He was convicted for the premeditated murder of his wife in June this year.
The infamous R40 was jam-packed with spectators and motorists who seemed happy to see the runners sharing the road with them.
The 21km run started at White River and ended at Mbombela Stadium.
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Abednico Mashaba won the 10km race with a time of 32:31, and Tebogo Pulusa finished second. Pulusa was in the lead with 2km left to go, but Mashaba ran impressive splits of 2:41min/km and 2:43min/km for the last two kilometres to catch up for a dramatic win.
Zanele Sehohle, a member of Bella’s Athletic Club and the current South African junior 1 500m champion, won the 10km women’s event. Chantal Middel-Bovee came in second and Ntokozo Dlamini, also a member of Bella’s Athletic Club, came third.
The Mataffin Men’s Forum was part of the race, with a message that not only women and children are affected by violence, but some men as well. They urged all men and women to come forward and report any form of violence.
Major General Zodwa Mokoena of the SAPS, also a local athlete, participated in the GBV Race and said, “Raising awareness is crucial, since rape, murdering women, and child abuse are a pandemic in our nation. It is essential to take drastic action, because GBV has spread to every corner of the country and even ranked South Africa the rape capital of the world,” she said.
Bella’s Athletics Club’s chairperson, Bobo Zitha, addressed the athletes and spectators, and reiterated the stance that should be taken by every citizen to curb this scourge. He concluded by thanking all the participants and sponsors.
