SAPS steps up fitness: Over 620 officers participate in Pretoria Marathon

South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, participated alongside over 600 police officers in the Pretoria Marathon on Sunday, 23 February.

A reported 626 police officers from across police stations and SAPS service points from all nine provinces entered the 42.2km, 21.1km, 10km and 5km races.

Overall wellbeing of its police officers

KwaZulu-Natal fielded the most runners with 128 police officers followed by Limpopo with 109, followed by Gauteng with 92 runners and Mpumalanga with 72.

The SAPS continuously promotes the overall wellbeing of its employees by ensuring that members are allowed to take part in marathons and other sporting codes as a way of keeping fit and mentally well.

General Masemola was joined by senior management of the SAPS including the Deputy National Commissioner (DNC) of Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, DNC of crime detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya and the Acting DNC of Support Services, Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhuoa.

The Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni and other Divisional Commissioners in the SAPS also laced up their running shoes.

SAPS athletes gathered at 05:00 at the starting line in Lynwood Pretoria.

Ahead of the start General Masemola said: “We wish all our employees well for the race ahead. Keeping fit is an inherent requirement for all police officers and that is why we encourage fitness in the organisation. Every week members are allocated time to exercise to ensure our police officers are always ready to pursue criminals. We would like to thank Polmed as our main sponsor and supporter of our athletes.”