Pumza Fihlani

Pumza Fihlani

Attempts to get marathon runner Poppy Mlambo to lay charges against her former boyfriend for allegedly threatening to kill her have failed.

Mlambo said her former boyfriend had threatened to shoot her during the Nedbank Soweto Marathon on Sunday and then turn the gun on himself.

When Sowetan offered to escort Mlambo to the nearest police station yesterday, she refused.

Mlambo has obtained two restraining orders against the man. She has claimed he violated the order by threatening to kill her during Sunday's race.

"He hasn't contacted me recently so I want to leave it at that. I don't want to aggravate him by pressing charges," she said.

Mlambo, who is in hiding, has said her former boyfriend abused her for years.

She also said a member of his family had died and she did not want to appear insensitive.

In an interview with Sowetan this week, Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said there would be a ring of steel around the Nedbank Soweto Marathon route.