​Three Emergency Management Service (EMS) firefighters will run the Old Mutual Soweto Marathon in their bunker gear to pay tribute to their colleagues who died in the fire that recently engulfed the Bank of Lisbon building.

 Firefighters Mduduzi Ndlovu, 40, Simphiwe Moropane, 28, and Khathutshelo Muedi, 37, lost their lives while fighting the raging blaze, which also injured eight of their colleagues two months ago in the Johannesburg city centre.

Nhlakanipho Khoza, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Mzolo Nkosi will be kitted in full gear when they take on the 42.2km marathon, which starts and finishes at Soweto’s iconic FNB Stadium on Sunday, 4 November. The trio will take to the road dressed in firefighters’ flash hoods, helmets, turnout pants, jackets and instead of boots, running shoes to avoid blisters. This firefighter’s suit is quite heavy and it remains to be seen whether they will survive the test.

For now, the three are pumped up and have vowed to conquer the treacherous route in memory of their fellow fallen colleagues. Temperatures have been forecast to be soaring, so they’ll have to keep hydrated while running in the extremely hot and heavy gear.

Each year, the streets of Soweto are hyped up at the crack of dawn as tens of thousands of runners take to the tar in the annual Soweto Marathon. Dubbed the People’s Race, the marathon attracts runners from around the country and from other African states, including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia.

City of Joburg’s Events Director, Bongi Mokaba, urged Sowetans and motorists to extend a warm welcome to the runners. “As the City, we have ensured that the infrastructure is conducive to a successful marathon. All that needs to happen now is for Sowetans and motorists to come to the party and look after the runners. This is, after all, the People’s Race.”

The marathon has a total prize purse of R1 million and comprises a 10km run, a 21km half marathon, and the main event, the 42.2km marathon. As always, the route will go past some of Soweto’s historic landmarks as well as new developments in the township.

For locals, the marathon presents a great outdoor carnival, with families setting up braais on the streets, showering the tired runners with water from their hoses and relaxing in the sun and enjoying festivities.

The City of Joburg and commercial partner, Old Mutual, sponsor the Soweto Marathon.