Run your city chaos: Criminals pose as runners, steal phones at Joburg 10km race
Runners were targeted during a Run Your City Johannesburg 10km race on Heritage Day,
The Absa Run Your City Johannesburg 10km race, intended as a celebratory event, turned into a nightmare for many participants when their cell phones were stolen by criminals pretending to be fellow runners on Heritage Day, September 24, 2026. One victim, Khathutshelo Mulaudzi, recounted that her bag was cut while she was running, but she could not pinpoint the exact location of the theft among the numerous participants.
Mulaudzi, among over 100 others, was at the police station with fellow victims who all reported the same crime.
The affected runners have called for race organizers and sponsor Absa to address security lapses and confirm the total number of victims, growing increasingly frustrated with safety measures at the major athletic event. The South African Police Service (SAPS) acknowledged a social media post about the marathon but stated that only one person came forward to report a theft after the event.
SAPS spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko confirmed that the circumstances of the alleged theft are under investigation, with no arrests made yet.
Sibeko urged the public to report criminal incidents to the police for proper recording and investigation, warning against sharing unverified information that could cause unnecessary alarm. He also asked anyone with information or who may have been a victim of theft during the event to contact their nearest police station and provide relevant details. The Citizen reached out to Absa for a comment on the situation.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
