Witpoortjie runners take on the annual Absa Run Your City Joburg 10K
“I would like to encourage the youth to exercise at least three times a week to stay healthy and to avoid bad habits."
Witpoortjie residents Goodman Ngeleka and Basani Maluleke took on the 5th annual Absa Run Your City Joburg 10K at Mary Fitzgerald Square on Saturday, September 24 for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic.
For this year’s edition of the Absa Run Your City Joburg 10K on National Heritage Day the route was changed and for the first time went onto the M1/M2 Highway for the first four kilometres before heading into Joburg Central.
The route meant that the runners were able to see the whole of the city spread out before them.
Ngeleka is a member of the Phantane Athletics Club based in Durban and currently resides in Witpoortjie Ext 52.
Participating in the event for the fourth time, Goodman admitted that he was very excited to be part of the race since his last race was in February 2020. He prepared for this year’s challenge by doing an hour running daily and strength training.
“I would like to encourage the youth to exercise at least three times a week to stay healthy and to avoid bad habits. National Heritage Day for me means that we as Africans should unite and teach one another about our cultures,” he said.
Nicholas Seoposengwe and Emmaculate Achol flew to victory in the 2022 Absa Run Your City Joburg 10K with Seoposengwe turning the tables on Andries Sesidi who trumped a stellar field, while Achol crossed the finish line first in the women’s race.
While the streets of Joburg were painted red on the day, runners displayed a sense of commitment and inspired the celebrations of National Heritage Day.
“On behalf of Absa we would like to congratulate all the winners of this year’s Absa Run Your City series of events. The 2022 edition of this race was a true demonstration of what our campaign, Together we can be more, Siyabangena means. A big thank you to all participants who joined Team Absa Walk/ Run on Strava, where we are going to collect R1 for every kilometre each participant completed,” said Geoffrey Lee, Absa Managing Executive.
