Rustenburg - Security was tight at the offender athletics championship of the Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West region of the department of correctional services in Rustenburg on Wednesday.
Armed correctional officers were posted around the Olympia Park Stadium, all the gates were locked and officers controlled access at the main gate.
Head of correction in the region, Mandla Mkhwanazi said sports was part of the department of correctional service’s rehabilitations programme.
“When offenders participate in sports it opened their minds to opportunities that there are sporting houses that might signed them. Some of the [offenders] are very good,” he said.
Over 400 offenders, both male and female, from different correctional centres in the region participated in the championship. The top 84 participants would go to represent the region at the national championship in Durban on February 18 and 19.
Thebe Mokunke, 32, from Rooigrond in Mahikeng in the North West province, won the men’s 3000m in a time of 10m:16sec.
He said he discovered his running ability in prison and would continue running after his scheduled release in 2020.
“I want to win the Comrades marathon…I want to run,” he said.
Clarence Phukubye from Modimolle in Limpopo won the men’s 1500m race while Gloria Moagi, 25, from Polokwane in Limpopo won the women’s juvenile 1500m in 09: 11. Cynthia Selala, 29, won the women’s 1500m in a time of seven minutes and 33 seconds.
The championships end on Thursday, with the 100m and 400m 4×4 relays.
African News Agency
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