Bella’s Athletics Club hosts inaugural GBV Race
Following a protracted wait beginning in 2021, the eagerly anticipated Bella’s Athletics Club’s inaugural GBV Race finally occurred on Saturday August 13.
The theme of the race was “Stop
GBV”, particularly fitting for this Women’s Month, and emphasised the growing need to bring awareness to the country’s plight.
A candlelight ceremony took place to pay respects to those who have passed away due to the GBV scourge.
Bella’s Athletics Club also paid special tribute to Tebogo Mabunda’s family and awarded the Matsane family her race medals as a means of condolences.
Mabunda was shot and killed by her ex-cop husband, Mugiyo Ulrich Mabunda, outside their house in Stonehenge in May 2020. He was convicted for the premeditated murder of his wife in June.
The R40 was jam-packed with spectators and motorists who seemed happy to see the runners sharing the road with them. The 21km run started at White River and ended at Mbombela Stadium.
Abednico Mashaba won the 10km race with a time of 32:31, and Tebogo Pulusa finished second.
Pulusa was in the lead with 2km left to go, but Mashaba ran impressive negative splits of 2:41min/km and 2:43min/km for the last two kilometres to catch up for a dramatic win.
Zanele Sehohle, a member of Bella’s Athletics Club and the current South African junior 1 500m champion, won the 10km women’s event.
Chantal Middel-Bovee came in second and Ntokozo Dlamini, also a member of Bella’s Athletics Club, came third.
The Mataffin Men’s Forum was part of the race, with a message that not only women and children are affected by violence, but some men as well. They urged all men and women to come forward and report any form of violence.
Major General Zodwa Mokoena of the SAPS, also a local athlete, participated in the GBV Race.
“Raising awareness is crucial, since rape, murdering women, and child abuse are a pandemic in our nation. It is essential to take drastic action, because GBV has spread to every corner of the country and even ranked South Africa the rape capital of the world,” she said.
Bella’s Athletics Club’s chairperson, Bobo Zitha, addressed the athletes and spectators present, and reiterated the stance that should be taken by every citizen to curb this scourge. He concluded by thanking all the participants and sponsors.