Veteran ultra-marathon runner Joyce Netshitenzhe, who embarked on a 520 km run from Pretoria to Thohoyandou a fortnight ago to raise awareness about the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and promote women's empowerment, said the fight should be year-round.
Netshitenzhe (44) of Khakhanwa spoke during her triumphant arrival in Thohoyandou after completing the gruelling 15-day journey. Her run began at Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria on 11 October and ended on Saturday, 25 October, in Thohoyandou, where she was given a hero's welcome by the local community. She later handed a memorandum to the Thohoyandou police.
Netshitenzhe joins the ranks of other endurance athletes raising awareness for the cause, including Nditsheni Mathobo, who recently completed a 1,080 km run from Durban to Thavhani Mall in Thohoyandou, and Pfano Ungedzani, who ran 448 km from Pretoria to Thohoyandou.
Despite these campaigns, the scourge of GBV continues unabated. Netshitenzhe said such initiatives should not be one-off events but a way of life.
"The run was highly successful, and I believe we managed to spread the message wherever we passed," she said. "My run was more than a test of endurance; it was a call for justice, compassion, and change. I will soon be visiting traditional houses, where GBV will form part of their weekly meetings' agenda. God willing, and with more sponsors coming on board, the project will continue."