Durban – At least 200 policemen and women will take part in the world’s biggest, oldest, and most famous ultramarathon on Sunday.
The 87.701 km Comrades Marathon will be the 48th Down Run, starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing 12 hours later in Durban.
COMRADES MARATHON: At least 200 policemen and women will take part in the world’s biggest, oldest, and most famous ultramarathon on Sunday
The members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) taking part in the marathon include 170 men and 30 women.
Most of the officers have taken part in the marathon before and only 26 of them are novice runners.
National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola on Saturday said he “wished 200 police officers taking part in the 96th Comrades Marathon tomorrow well”.
General Masemola said the management of the SAPS continues to encourage and implement wellness and fitness programmes to ensure police officers are always fit and mentally sharp to serve and protect all people living in South Africa.
“We have 21 sporting codes in the SAPS which include athletics, rugby, and soccer where we encourage members to keep fit and healthy,” said General Masemola.
“Over and above that we have a fitness policy in the SAPS that ensures operational members undergo fitness tests and assessments regularly.
“Our medical aid, Polmed, also looks at wellness programmes for members. So there is a lot that we are doing as an organisation to ensure our members follow a healthy lifestyle.
“So, good luck to the team, we know they will make us proud and we cannot wait to have them back to arrest more criminals, “said Gen Fannie Masemola.”
Security around the marathon has already been beefed up.
Provincial Commissioner of KZN, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said: “Our members are already on the ground heightening police visibility, we have our air support operations and foot patrols where we will be patrolling the route.
“We are working together with various stakeholders including the private security to ensure this event is free from criminality.
“To this year’s participants, all the men and women in blue are behind you all the way, good luck and all the best.”
