“Hey, our hero and first celebrity in Sunrise Park is back!” shouts a young girl as she sees Comrades Marathon winner and new millionaire David Gatebe jog past her to his one-bedroom shack.
CAPTION: David Gatebe surrounded by well wishers at his home in Rustenburg after winning the 2016 Comrades Marathon. PICTURE: VATHISWA RUSELO
Flanked by club mates Gift Kelehe (2015 Comrades winner), Peter Gaebetse and Gordon Lesetedi, Gatebe, 34, was followed by a massive crowd and a convoy of hooting cars as he arrived at Sunrise Park township in Rustenburg, North West, on Tuesday.
He was fresh from conquering the gruelling 89km down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday.
His astonishing time of 5hrs:18min:19sec smashed the record set by Russian Leonid Shvetsov in 2007.
His win earned him just over R1-million in prize money. However, he would only receive the money two months after his blood and urine samples had been tested for any illegal substances.
But for now it’s all about celebrating the rare moment for the people of Sunrise Park, a relatively poor community.
The new hero posed for loads of selfies and shook hands with scores of people as the crowd continued to swell outside his small silver shack.
Source: Sowetan
-TDN
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