THE Mayor of King Sabatha Dalindyebo Local Municipality, Councillor Nyaniso Nelani, confirmed that as the municipality they would keep supporting the Icon’s Journey Marathon Challenge.
Nelani said this at the main event of the Icon’s Journey Marathon Challenge, where 12 runners from different provinces were finishing the 400km Challenge.
This challenge started from Fort Hare University in Alice on July 14, 2024, to Nelson Mandela Museum in Mthatha.
The trio who obtained first place in the men runners was Siyabonga Mafuleka (31) from KwaZulu-Natal; he was followed by Linda Zondi (32) from KwaZulu-Natal who won in 2023, while Thomas Ndlovu (41) from Pretoria obtained third place. Diketseng Molefe (46) won in the female runners.
Nelani said they want this marathon to continue because it is growing each year.
“It is growing in terms of quality, as well as in terms of additional aspects. If you can look at the one hosted this year, it is showing that it is growing.
“If we want it to grow seriously as the people of KSD, both public and private institutions, to lift its standard of our area we must take part in Icon’s Journey,” said Nelani.
He added that they had agreed with the founder of this Icon’s Journey, Chief Vulithuba Sango, that they should sit down immediately after this marathon.
Nelani said that they should not sit down when another marathon is going to be hosted, but they should do that now.
“This will help us to be able to plan together the support that we are giving; to do that it must be something that is necessary.
“I am talking about the whole government so that we can know what it means to have Icon’s Journey in the municipality and in OR Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, because it could be anywhere.”
The Chairperson of the Council of Nelson Mandela Museum, Dr Siphe Potelwa, said that they are celebrating 30 years of democracy, and they were happy about this initiative.
“It is an initiative from our traditional leader, and it is a blessing that he (Sangoni) had managed to come with such an initiative.
“This is an event that has established new partners. We are very proud of the new sponsors that are coming on board,” said Potelwa.
He added that they hoped that since they have started with this 400km event they wish that this can become a good legacy that will continue.
He said that they invite all companies that want to be branded as part of this legacy to come on board.
Mafuleka, who won the event, said that it was not the first time he had entered a marathon as he participated in the Comrades Marathon in 2023.
“It was not an easy road, but I thank God that I managed to make it. This shows that I have potential when it comes to running,” said Mafuleka.
Molefe, who won the female section, said that she did not know that she would manage to reach Nelson Mandela Museum.
