Security during next week’s Comrades marathon is a cause for concern, said a running-club spokesperson on Thursday.
”I received a letter from our Russian manager who is concerned there could be a security risk with his athletes,” said Ray de Vries of Premier Running Club.
The Russian manager, Sergey Krasnoschekov, was particularly concerned about the famous Nurgalieva twins who finished first and second at last year’s Comrades and first and second in the Two Oceans marathon.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Superintendent Vishnu Naidoo said there is no cause for concern as they have a comprehensive security plan in place for the Midlands, Durban North and Durban South areas.
”It is a plan which has been implemented over the years and this year will comprise no less than 15 different police disciplines. All will be brought into action during the day of the Comrades. We don’t take this event lightly,” said Naidoo.
The military, air force and crime intelligence units will also be active on the day.
Comrades marathon spokesperson Cheryl Wynn said that everything is ”very much under control”.
Last year a Japanese runner on the stretch between Umlaas Road and Drummond was mugged and robbed of his running shoes and wristwatch.
”This year everybody seems to be taking it a whole lot more seriously,” and there has been planning with the police, metro police and municipalities, said Wynn.
The amakosi (traditional leaders) are offering about 80 marshals for crowd control.
Krasnoschekov said from Moscow that the Russian twins are very popular in South Africa and they are concerned that without police on the route, well-meaning people will crowd them during the race.
De Vries said the chief executive of Premier’s sponsors, Iain Buchan, has said no expense should be spared in making sure that the athletes are safe in their hotels before the race.
Earlier this week there were fears that security could be jeopardised by a labour dispute. Metro police officers had threatened boycott action on the public holiday.
Independent Municipal Allied Trade Union regional manager Ian Dunsmore said there is ”no more news at this stage” regarding this dispute.
Metro police officers were disputing salary structures and these had not yet been resolved. — Sapa