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Mawande Hlongwe from Bizana said that he was delighted to win the Tyeks Security Cheatahs marathon.
The unemployed Hlongwe survives by running. He completed his diploma in Public Administration back in 2015 through UNISA, but he never got a taste of being employed and he has been surviving, and feeding his family, with the money he won in marathons.
This past Sunday the Bizana-born won, in a time of two hours and 25 minutes for the 42 km during the Tyeks Security Cheatahs marathon in Mthatha.
“I am happy with how I performed today. I ran two hours, 25 minutes. It was a difficult marathon for me, because I was competing against athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia.
“I thanked my ancestors and God; this is my only job for me. If I don’t win I get frustrated because this is the only way I make money for living,” added Hlongwe.
OR Tambo District mayor, Mesuli Ngqondwana, said,
Tyeks Security spokesperson, Siya Ngcangisa, said that the main intention of the marathon was to promote health and fitness among the security cluster and community at large.
“If you have paid attention to social media, you have noticed a lot of photos and videos shaming security officers and members of police for being overweight and unfit; it has been observed that some of the incidents involve security personal being overpowered and outpaced by suspects,” said Ngcangisa.
Ngcangisa added that the marathon also serves to appeal to communities to stay fit as a measure to protect themselves from crime.
“Being fit could also be beneficial for a potential mugging victim,” he added.
Sandiso Majali, secretary of Cheetahs Athletic Club, said that the marathon was a success and he thanked the participants.
