TREND SETTER: Loveday Zondi became the first black paddler to race onto the podium at the Dusi canoe marathon in 2005. Picture: GALLO IMAGES
Chris Makhaye
Local youth who live along the Unlimited Dusi canoe marathon route have been roped in to provide security for this year’s event.
Yesterday the race’s organisers met with police, local amakhosi and councillors to discuss security concerns around the race following the mugging last week of a family who were watching from the side of the river while paddler friends were training for the Dusi.
The family was robbed at gunpoint near Marianne Folley Bridge and their belongings, including cellphones and cash were taken by the thugs.
Spokesperson for the Dusi Ray de Vries said the meeting was to organise peace monitors, who are mainly youngsters from areas along the Dusi route, to help protect the race’s participants and spectators.
“We have decided to plead with amakhosi and the councillors after the mugging incident. It was unprecedented and it was damaging to the image of the Unlimited Dusi and of the country in general and we had to do something,” he said.
“Police have been deployed in the area. Amakhosi in the Valley of 1000 Hills have pledged to send the word out to the community to apprehend suspected criminals and to help with the general security,” he said.
De Vries said organisers expect that the security measures taken would assure participants and spectators to come out in their numbers to watch the race.
The Unlimited Dusi marathon – which runs on the 120km river route will begin on February 16 in Pietermaritzburg and end three days later in Durban.
Favourites this year include the only black team of Michael Mbanjwa/Eric Zondi team, the Henk McGregor/Len Jenkin team and Andrew Bickett and Jason Graham pair.
As for the crocodile which has reportedly been seen lurking in the waters where the race ends, De Vries said although it has not been caught the reptiles were not a threat to the race.
chrism@thenewage.co.za