POLOKWANE – This follows several incidents over the last year during which residents were attacked while jogging.
In the most recent incident, Moses Mawetsi, who went for a run in the early morning hours of Saturday, 26 March was mugged by armed men.
Mawetsi said he was on his regular early morning run when he was approached by an armed man close to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital when he was accosted by a man demanding his cell phone..
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said reports of residents being attacked while jogging was a cause for concern for the municipality.
After much deliberation with all stakeholders, the municipality decided it would be safer for runners and dog walkers to make use of the Peter Mokaba Sports Complex.
We take the safety of our residents very seriously, and so nobody will be allowed to jog or walk their dogs around the stadium or in residential areas as of 3 May, said Chuene.
Chuene said there would be a daily R15 entry fee which runners will be required to pay to use the stadium, while dog walkers will pay R20.
Alternatively, runners can pay a R1 000 monthly fee or R1 500 for the dog walkers. This can be paid in at the municipal offices.
“In this way, the municipality kills two birds with one stone; residents will be safe during their exercises, while the municipality generates revenue and makes use of the so-called ‘white elephant’,” she said, adding safety vehicles and marshals will be at hand for joggers’ safety.
Asked if runners could make use of the old stadium when there are events at the sports complex, Chuene said no, and that residents would be notified of an alternative venue.
She added that there would be municipal marshals who will make regular patrols to ensure runners complied with the new by-law.
Chuene further said this by-law will soon apply to cyclists.
“A R500 spot fine will be give to anyone found in contravention of this law.”
Corrie Calitz, chairperson of the Polokwane Athletics Club, said the club fully supports the initiative by the municipality.
“Runners should stop complaining about not being safe. The municipality is now looking after us. We have the stadium as a resource, so we should make use of it. People have been advised to run in groups, but you still hear of incidents where they were attacked. So this is a really good initiative by the municipality,” said Calitz.
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