CGA place Mazibuko on leave of absence as Trust members wage war for the soul of the Soweto Marathon

Just days after celebrating the successful staging of the 29th edition of the race, the Soweto Marathon has once again been thrown into turmoil by infighting between the leaders of the organisation. This after Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) suspended Soweto Marathon Trust (SMT) spokesperson Thokozani Mazibuko for irregularities surrounding the establishment of a new company known as the Soweto Marathon (Pty) Ltd which has been acting on behalf of the trust without the full mandate of all the trust members.

Just two days before The People's Race was run through the iconic township, the Sunday World published a story quoting the Soweto Marathon Trust's founding member Thulani Sibisi. Sibisi claimed that the race had been hijacked by Mazibuko and three other Trust members who opened this private company and started receiving funds from the event's sponsors without the knowledge of the rest of the Trust members.

When questioned by the Sunday World about this Mazibuko explained that they had been forced to open the company and the new bank account after two Trust members had been suspended ahead of the 2023 race and the bank account frozen.

The CGA Board then met the day before the sold out Soweto Marathon took place at the Nasrec Expo Centre on 3 November to discuss a number of issues including the allegations levelled against Mazibuko who also serves on the board of the regional athletics federation. They resolved to place Mazibuko on a leave of absence pending the outcome of an investigation which will be conducted by CGA's Disciplinary Commission.

"We have written to Soweto Marathon to request some information on this matter. Considering the seriousness of these allegations, the Board of CGA, has resolved to place Mr Thokozani Mazibuko on leave of absence to allow him an opportunity to clear his name. This process will also ensure that the integrity and good corporate governance of CGA remains intact," said the statement sent to CGA Members by the organisation’s General Manager Mandla Radebe.

"The resolution by the CGA board to place Mr Mazibuko on leave of absence means that he shall be precluded from participating in all activities associated with athletics both in the province and nationally, which includes but not limited to the affairs of the Soweto Marathon. The leave of absence will take effect immediately and shall end when the CGA board has processed the report from our Disciplinary committee on the allegations."