VANDERBIJLPARK.- It was a busy weekend with events all over the country in celebration of Mother’s Day.
Bafana Manyika hosted a 10 km Run at Cecil Oldridge Park in Vanderbijlpark as part of Mother’s Day celebrations with local athletes, men, and women coming not only to participate but also to support this initiative. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Manyika said that mothers play an important role in the community, especially single mothers. He said most mothers singlehandedly raise their children and as such they need to be celebrated.
The race was attended by top local athletes with former Banyana Banyana Rose “Pona” Jijane among them and, participating in this event. Jijane who ran in Mittal Athletics Club colours came in second position in the women’s category with a time of 40:37 beaten by Lebo Mofokeng from Top Runner Athletics Club with 40:22.
Kedibone Monamane also from Mittal Athletics Club came in third position, registering 48:05. In the men’s section, Serame Gumede from VUT Athletics Club was a winner with a time of 31:14 while Tshepo Qavu from Mittal Athletics Club finished second place with 32:14.
“I want to thank all the runners who came to support this initiative and we want to say thank you for supporting this initiative. We did this in honour of mothers in our community for being there, not only for their families but for the community.
“We all know the stories about those brave women in our respective communities who raised their children alone but never complain and we must compliment them. It is not easy for a mother to raise a boy child alone, but hats off to them,” said Manyika.
