Organisers of the annual Comrades Marathon have expressed concern over the possible effect the strike by public-sector workers may have on the event, the Daily News reported on Wednesday.
The newspaper reported that the South African Police Service as well as the eThekwini metro police and local protection services in Pietermaritzburg were an integral part of the race’s success and that the strike could have a severe impact.
The Daily News quoted Comrades Marathon Association chairperson Dave Dixon as saying: ”We’ve been keeping a close watch on the intended strike action by the civil servants as we believe this will impact on our race.”
Dixon said that the organisers had held an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening in a bid to put in place a plan to deal with strike-related problems.
Dixon said that he had held several meetings with local authorities along the route.
The marathon will be taking place on June 17. The date was moved to a Sunday after complaints that the race, which this year will have a field of 11 000 runners, was reducing the focus on Youth Day ceremonies.
However, local church groups between Pietermaritzburg and Durban have since complained that their members will be unable to attend Sunday services as a result of road closures.
This year’s race is a downhill run starting in Pietermaritzburg and finishing in Durban. — Sapa