You paid for her R400k 'jog'

KZN WATER ENTITY: SPONSORED ZANDILE'S DISMAL PERFORMANCE IN NEW YORK MARATHON

- Marizka Coetzer

ON THE ROAD. Runners compete in the 53rd New York City Marathon in New York, United States, last year. OVERLOOKED. Ultramarathon runner Bennie Roux who struggles to raise his own funds to compete overseas.

(Gallo Images)

While ultramarathon athlete Bennie Roux, 41, struggles financially to compete internationally, a government water entity spent almost R400 000 of taxpayer money to sponsor a civil servant who finished in the bottom quarter of the field of the New York City Marathon.

Roux says it is extremely difficult for an average athlete who trains hard and gives it their all to get somewhere, and “then you read about this type of story in the news about people who really don’t deserve the opportunity.

“They are literally wasting money on first-class flights, it’s ridiculous, it makes a person sick,” he said.

Documents by a whistle-blower showed uMngeni-uThukela Water defended its decision to sponsor the travel, accommodation and entry costs of their employee, 32-year-old Lorraine Zandile Mhlongo, a supply chain management official, according to the Sunday Times.

She completed the race in 5hr 27min, a time which would not even qualify for the Comrades Marathon.

But Roux said nothing would stop him from chasing his dream. He has spent about R250 000 and competed in the Moab 240-miler in the US, a 385.7km race that began and ended in Moab, Utah, following the trail of the Colorado River,

He was third overall.

“My dream is to compete in Switzerland next,” he said.