By Sonica Naudé-Steyn

Hundreds of runners took to the streets on Saturday morning to take part in the inaugural MM’s 5 and 10km Fun Run.
Four hundred participants were officially registered for the event, receiving complimentary running t-shirts and race packs however many more runners were welcomed and took part on Saturday. The streets were a blur of colourful runners and walkers, including Greater Kokstad Mayor, Lwanda Madikizela, GKM Deputy Mayor, Karen Walker, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, Harry Gwala District Municipality Mayor, Zamo Nxumalo and of course, GKM Municipal Manager, Sipho Zwane.
In a media briefing last Wednesday, Zwane revealed that the event had humbling beginnings. He said he and a small group of colleagues started running every morning and soon the group, largely fuelled by a WhatsApp platform, grew exponentially. Soon there were calls for a formal event and once the formal event was established, participants from Johannesburg, Durban, Mthatha, Matatiele, Lusikisiki, Mbizana and more started showing interest.
Following Saturday’s success, it is hoped to grow it to an even larger event which will eventually be a qualifier for the Comrades Marathon. Zwane also thanked all the sponsors who approached him, wanting to be part of the event.