'I'm very happy' - Mofolo sets new course record at Hollywoodbets Durban 10km and sets sights on marathon debut in Cape Town

Kamohelo Mofolo delivered an impressive solo run, clocking an exceptional time of 27:57 to win the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km race today (Saturday, August 30) at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium. Lesotho’s fastest 10km athlete of all time improved on the previous course record set by Kabelo Mulaudzi during the 2023 edition of the race by four seconds. Mulaudzi who won the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K six days ago, took second place in 28:01, while Thabang Mosiako, the reigning South African Half-Marathon Champion, took third in a season's best 28:03. 

On a cool morning in the City of eThekwini, Mofolo set the pace right from the start as he went through halfway in 13:45. But after struggling with the wind during the second half of the race, the Xcel Running Club top runner had to dig deep to dip under 28 minutes for the third fastest 10km clocking of his career. Mofolo, who took third place at the same race last year in 28:09, expressed excitement about fulfilling the promise he made during the pre-race press conference, where he boldly stated his intention to win the race. 

Mofolo celebrates a memorable victory at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km. Photo Credit: Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.

"I'm very happy to have won the race. On Thursday (28 August), I made a strong statement by telling everyone that I was going to win. I knew I was fully prepared for this race," he told #TheTopRunner.

"My strategy was to go out fast from the very beginning. I knew Mulaudzi would give me tough competition, but since he had raced the previous week in Tshwane, I needed to make a move early. It paid off as the other competitors couldn't respond. In the first half, I was on track to post a very fast time, but the wind from 6km slowed my pace," he explained.

12 000 runners and walkers took part in the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban 10km which comprised of a 10km and 5km event. Photo Credit: Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.

Mofolo, who holds Lesotho’s 10km record of 27:47 set at last month's Absa Run Your City Durban 10km, where he finished as the runner-up, is now focusing on preparing for his debut marathon at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on October 19.

"I'm going to compete in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in October, which will be my first marathon. After the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K race, my coach developed a marathon training program for me. Tebello Ramakongoana will pace me there, and I aim to complete it in under 2 hours and 8 minutes," he concluded.

Xaba produced her third 10km victory this month and the seventh consecutive sub 32 minute 10km clocking in Durban. Photo Credit: Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.

In the women's race, Glenrose Xaba of Boxer Athletics Club maintained controlled it from the get-go as she clocked yet another sub-32-minute performance with a course record time of 31:33. This victory earned her R37,500. It was Xaba's best time of 2025 and marked the seventh consecutive time she finished under 32 minutes in Durban. Meanwhile, Neheng Khathala continued her outstanding form, setting a new Lesotho 10km record time of 31:43, improving her previous best by ten seconds to secure second place. Kenya's Fridah Ndida finished third with a time of 32:34.

"For most of the race, I was on pace for a record time, but I felt fatigued in the second half," she said referring to her SA record of 31:12 set in Durban in July 2024. "I'm so happy to have won the race. I always perform well in Durban, it feels like my second home. I have many fans here, so whenever I come, I want to make them proud."