The Comrades Marathon takes place on Sunday, 14 June.
Image: Comrades Marathon Association
The eThekwini Municipality is gearing up for Sunday's Comrades Marathon which is an up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
The City said in a statement that 21 600 athletes will be participating in the marathon with 65 000 spectators also expected along the route.
“The Comrades Marathon continues to be a significant economic driver for eThekwini, attracting thousands of visitors whose spending contributes substantially to the local economy through accommodation, transport, hospitality, retail, and tourism-related activities. Small businesses are expected to benefit from the increased visitor numbers during the marathon weekend, with approximately 1 300 temporary job opportunities anticipated to be created.”
Regarding safety, the municipality said Metro Police officers will be deployed at strategic locations along the route and at key gathering points to ensure the smooth running of the event and to assist with traffic and crowd management.
A fan park will also be hosted at the Kings Park Athletics Stadium from 4:30am to 17:30. At the park, residents and visitors will have an opportunity to watch live race coverage and support participants throughout the day.
Attendees can also look forward to a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere featuring live entertainment, interactive activities, food vendors, and recreational experiences suitable for all ages.
The Office of the Provincial Police Commissioner said the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS) has put necessary safety and security measures in place to ensure that the province delivers yet another incident-free Comrades Marathon.
“The Comrades Marathon Association, working together with both eThekwini Metro and Umgungundlovu traffic officials, have communicated road closures and road users are urged to cooperate with law enforcement officers during the Comrades Marathon weekend.
“The entire Comrades Marathon route has been declared a no-fly zone and only authorised operational aircrafts and drones will be permitted to fly. Any unauthorised drone will be taken down operationally in accordance with the law. The displaying of banners depicting unsavoury and or politically-aligned messages on bridges, road signs and buildings will be dealt with in compliance with municipal bylaws and other statutes.”
Addressing crime issues, the police said during last year's marathon a few incidents of theft of motor vehicles and theft out of motor vehicles were reported.
“Police have identified hotspot areas and have deployed police officers accordingly, both uniformed and undercover. Spectators are also reminded to be vigilant at all times and mind their surroundings. Different law enforcement units, amplified by private security and dedicated Comrades Marathon marshals, will be out in full force to ensure that the 2026 Comrades Marathon becomes yet another successful world class spectacle.”
*The public is advised of the following road closures on Sunday, 14 June:
• Dr Pixley KaSeme Street
• Joseph Nduli Road
• N3 West Off-Ramp to King Cetshwayo Highway contra-flow via 45th Cutting to the M13 and Cowies Hill
• Josiah Gumede Road, Pinetown
• M13 through Kloof, Gillitts and Old Main Road into Hillcrest
• R103 towards Cato Ridge via Doonrug Road
All affected roads will reopen once the last runner has passed through the respective areas.
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