Soweto Marathon 2025 Faces Uncertainty Despite Thousands of Entries
The 30th edition of the Soweto Marathon 2025, famously known as The People’s Race, is scheduled to take place at Nasrec Stadium, Johannesburg, on 30 November. Thousands of runners have already signed up, but the event’s future is clouded by an ongoing ownership dispute that threatens to derail one of the country’s most iconic races.
Soweto Marathon Entries and Race Details
Entries for this year’s Soweto Marathon are still open, with three popular race categories:
- Standard Marathon (42.2 km): Starts at 05:30 – entry fee R380
- Half-Marathon (21.1 km): Starts at 06:30 – entry fee R300
- 10 km Run: Starts at 07:30 – entry fee R280
As tradition dictates, the Soweto Marathon 2025 route will take athletes past eight heritage landmarks, including Vilakazi Street, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. These sites make the event not only a test of endurance but also a journey through history and culture.
In keeping with its commitment to equality, male and female winners will receive the same prize money. The champions of the full marathon stand to pocket R250 000 each, making it one of the richest races on the African running calendar.
Who Really Owns the People’s Race?
While excitement builds among runners, a bitter dispute has cast a long shadow over the event. For years, the Soweto Marathon Trust (SMT) was the custodian of the race. But in 2023 and 2024, the responsibility shifted to Soweto Marathon (Pty) Ltd, which soon ran into financial troubles, leading to frozen bank accounts.
This financial fallout paved the way for the creation of a new body, Soweto Marathon Clubs (NPC), established in July 2024. The problem? Both SMT and NPC now claim the right to stage the 2025 race.
The situation escalated further when Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) approved two dates: 2 November for SMT and 30 November for NPC. In response, SMT issued a strongly worded statement vowing to block the November 30 event, even threatening that the race “will not take place this year” if imposters attempt to hijack it.
Athletes and Supporters Losing Faith
The uncertainty has already driven athletes away. Long-time participants have expressed frustration, with some demanding refunds and others questioning the legitimacy of the race.
One veteran runner said:
“I always run this race, and I’ve already paid for this year. But I want to withdraw because I’m not sure if it will happen. Even if it does, I don’t trust its legitimacy.”
On social media, anger is boiling over. Some are calling for boycotts, while others accuse politicians of meddling in sport for personal gain. One frustrated comment read:
“They are systematically destroying the People’s Race. This will end like many other events that collapsed because of greed.”
Marathon Administrators Under Pressure
The administrative confusion has deepened after CGA’s newly appointed administrator, Trevor Fredericks, distanced himself from the issue, saying he only assumed office a week ago. General manager Mandla Radebe has yet to respond publicly, leaving runners with little clarity on who is actually in charge.
Also read: From Training to Qualification: How to Successfully Enter the Comrades Marathon
The Future of the People’s Race Hangs in the Balance
The Soweto Marathon 2025 was meant to be a celebration of 30 years of the People’s Race. Instead, it has become a battlefield of politics, money, and power. With thousands of runners already registered and eager to compete, the biggest question remains unanswered: Will the starting gun fire on 30 November, or will the Soweto Marathon become another casualty of mismanagement?
