Sponsors drop Zuma marathon

FORMER President Jacob Zuma’s ousting from the Union Buildings is believed to be the reason behind sponsors dumping a marathon named after him.

The 42km race, which had for the past three years been taking place between two small towns in the KwaZuluNatal Midlands, was scheduled to be run yesterday between Seven Oaks outside Greytown and Umshwathi outside Pietermaritzburg.

Organiser of the marathon Celi Makhoba said they had to cancel it because they could not secure sponsors. Makhoba said last year over 900 athletes participated and that there were about 400 people registered to participate in this year’s event.

“We had to cancel it because they were no sponsors. We needed about R800 000 for the event.”

Umzinyathi District municipal mayor Petros Ngubane, who is also a councillor in Umvoti Municipality, which sponsored the event, told SABC News that the marathon was cancelled because of political changes in the government.

Ngubane confirmed this when Independent Media called him yesterday.

He told Independent Media that Umvoti Municipality had been providing staff, money and refreshments.

He said the JG Zuma Marathon officials had in January approached the Umzinyathi for support, “but we did not have budget”.

Ngubane said the district would come up with an alternative event.

He said the event would have a different name and would take place between Nquthu and Dundee, in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Makhoba denied that changes in government had something to do with a shortage of sponsors.

Umvoti mayor Thami Ngubane said he was unsure of the reasons behind the cancellation of the event, adding he was expecting organisers to explain.

Zuma’s spokesperson Vukile Mathabela acknowledged receiving questions from Independent Media, and promised a response, which did not come by deadline.