"If we are not on good terms, athletes suffer" - KZNA to send delegation to meet with CMA

In an effort to mend their broken relationship with the Comrades Marathon Association, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics decided to send a delegation to meet with the CMA to discuss solutions to the well-document impasse between the organisations. After the successful 99th edition of The Ultimate Human Race took place on 14 June, a public row erupted between KZNA and the CMA when the latter questioned why they should pay race levies and consequently asserted their independence by deciding not to reaffiliate to the provincial athletics federation or Athletics South Africa going forward.

In response to the decision taken by CMA Members on the 1st of August to overwhelmingly reject reaffiliation to KZNA, the Durban-based governing body held it’s own Special General Meeting on Saturday, 8 August, where the attendees chose to extend an olive branch to the CMA by sending a nine member delegation to Comrades House in Pietermaritzburg. The delegation comprises seven council members and two EXCO members. KZNA Acting President Khulezweni 'Khura' Buthelezi characterized the meeting as a great success and an important step towards finding solutions that will benefit athletics as a whole.

"I'm happy with what happened in the meeting. I think the clubs agree that we can move athletics to the next step with one voice. I think before we find solutions, we must first ask ourselves what went wrong. Comrades is a huge race in the province, country and internationally. Most runners dream of running it," he told #TheTopRunner.

"So if we are not on good terms with it, athletes suffer. We don't want to leave our athletes uncertain about the future. That’s why we need to find common ground with Comrades as soon as possible for the sake of athletes and the sport. I'm positive that both parties will make decisions based on benefitting of the sport.”

Buthelezi (right) says it's important for KZNA to mend their relationship with the CMA. Photo Credit: Supplied.

When meeting with Comrades, the nine KZNA delegates will have to focus on several key points including repairing the strained relationship between the two parties, who have been engaged in a lengthy court battle spanning almost three years and drafting a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations. The meeting could also touch on KZNA’s plans to set up a separate development fund financed by race levies from organisations like the CMA. Buthelezi is confident that their delegation will be able to meet with the CMA Board before the launch of the 2027 race on 19 August.

"There is another meeting on Thursday (13 August) to decide the delegates that will be engaging with Comrades. I think with next year's event launch is around the corner, we are positive that both parties would have already met by then. If not so, the meeting shall happen soon.”