Women and community members came out in numbers for a Women’s Run in Elukwatini today as part of Women’s Month commemorations on August 29
The initiative brought together various stakeholders, including SPAR, Build It, FNB, Old Mutual and others, with the aim of celebrating women, promoting healthy lifestyles and raising awareness about gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The event was held as a pilot initiative to gauge community participation and identify areas for improvement as organisers work towards making the Women’s Run an annual or ongoing event.
Participants of different ages and backgrounds took part, including women, men, young people, older residents and persons with disabilities.
The run featured two distances, a 5km and 10km race, giving community members an opportunity to participate according to their fitness levels.
Organisers encouraged residents to support future editions of the event and to register early to ensure a successful and inclusive run.
However, some women used the occasion to call on the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality (CALM) to take women’s empowerment seriously by creating equal opportunities and prioritising local residents when awarding business opportunities.
They raised concerns that local women and businesses should benefit from opportunities within the municipality, saying women can only truly celebrate democracy and Women’s Month when they are empowered and embraced in their own communities.
Despite these concerns, participants thanked the organisers and sponsors for bringing the event to Elukwatini and creating an opportunity for women and the broader community to have fun while promoting healthy living.
