Jitters before Comrades

2007-06-15 21:38

By Elizabeth Atmore and Nathi Olifant

Durban - Confusion surrounds the possible impact of striking public servants on the running of the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, but the message from race organisers is that the event will take place, regardless of any obstacles.

Provincial Cosatu officials have insisted that they will disrupt the Comrades Marathon, despite national Cosatu leaders giving the event their full support.

The provincial threat came after an announcement made jointly by Athletics South Africa (ASA) and Cosatu's national office that the race will go ahead peacefully.

Comrades Marathon Association general manager, Gary Boshoff conceded there "might be some impact on the race" but said the CMA had not received any direct communication from Cosatu or any other unions.

Boshoff said: "At the moment everything we know about the possibility of a disruption are rumours we have heard through the media. Should there be any threat of disruption between now and the start of the race, it will be addressed by KwaZulu/Natal Athletics and ASA as and when required.

"Our risk management officials, SAPS and Metro Police will be on the route to deal with anything that comes up on race day," Boshoff added.

ASA president Leonard Chuene and his Cosatu counterpart, Willie Madisha committed themselves to the success of the annual race without any disturbances, agreeing that there will be no disruption to the "ultimate race".

Despite this assurance, and in an apparent act of defiance, provincial Cosatu secretary Zet Luzipho repeated to Weekend Witness earlier statements made to other media that the race would be invaded in a bid to expose internationally the unionsí fight for better pay.

"We will be there on the race day. We know nothing about that decision, they never spoke to us before the meeting and up to this hour we have not heard anything from them.

"They cannot take a decision on our behalf.

"We're joining the Comrades Marathon from the starting point,"Luzipho insisted.

No runners would be targeted

He would not elaborate on the form of the disruption but said no runners would be targeted as many of them are workers.

"We need to look at whether we have the same definition of "comrades". Is the race about government and commercial success or is it about the runners and the workers?" Luzipho asked.

Provincial police spokesperson Phindile Radebe said any threats would face the full might of the law. She said police had a comprehensive plan in place.

"We are working very closely with Metro Police and the Road Traffic Inspectorate and security has been stepped up at the starting point, alongside the route and at the finish. We have the capacity to contain the situation well," she said.

Boshoff reassured runners who had expressed concerns about medical attention on the route that they would receive the same care as previous years.

"Netcare911 are our official medical partners and they are in no way involved with the strike, so we guarantee that medical support will be the same standard as any other year. "Because of the threat of possible disruption, we have negotiated with them that in the event of an emergency, any injured runner will be taken to the nearest ICU and not only to Netcare facilities, as is stated in the contract," Boshoff said.

- The Witness