'The race is going ahead' - Gauteng Sport Confederation says Soweto Marathon will happen but reveal that date likely to change
- Lebohang Pita
- Aug 14
- 2 min read
Despite swirling uncertainty and conflicting statements from the organisations associated with the Soweto Marathon, Gauteng Sport Confederation Secretary-General Yaseen Lombard has cut through the noise – telling #TheTopRunner that the iconic race will indeed take place this year.
"As far as us, the City of Johannesburg and Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) are concerned, the race is going on," Lombard said.
Asked what's delaying the race launch, Lombard said the organising committee is still deliberating on a suitable date to avoid clashing with the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in November.
"It hasn't been launched because it clashes with the G20 Summit. We've asked the race's organising committee to move the date. They are looking at a date that doesn't clash with the summit."
Lombard's statement contradicts the Soweto Marathon Trust's (SMT) declaration that the People's Race won't go ahead unless its authority over the running of the marathon is restored and the title sponsor, African Bank, recognizes the trust as the sole owners of the race.
"Despite the issues with SMT and CGA's internal divisions, the race is going ahead. We are in talks with the Soweto clubs that formed the marathon. The majority want the race to go ahead, although two have reservations. The clubs have registered an NPC and it's led by Ishmael Modutwane," he explained.
He shared a WhatsApp message from Modutwane sharing the resolutions taken by Soweto athletics clubs while also slamming the SMT's Matsebe Maila for saying the clubs had resolved to cancel this year's race.
"We emailed CGA and copied ASA and yourself (Lombard) on March 18 about the resolutions taken by the clubs. We will be registering an NPC. The race is going ahead in 2025, as it did in 2023 and 2024," said Modutoane's message. "Soweto athletics clubs are the custodians of this race on behalf of the people of Soweto. It does not belong and was never handed to the trust. The trust was only recommended to administer the race among the many vehicles viz a NPC, Association etc. Matsebe Maila is lying about the clubs meeting with the trust to cancel the race. Furthermore, clubs are not even aware that he has been appointed or elected to be a trustee," the message read.
Meanwhile, despite working with Lombard and his team to facilitate last year's Soweto Marathon, the Gauteng department of Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation - who bailed the event out in 2022 when it didn't have a sponsor - seems to be washing its hands of the entire affair. Responding to which entity - SMT, Soweto Marathon (Pty) Ltd or the new NPC – has been engaged or contracted regarding, among others, logistics, permits and municipal funding, the department said:
"Regarding the 2025 Soweto Marathon, the department has not engaged or contracted any entity regarding transportation, road space access, permits, safety and municipal services for the upcoming marathon, and is not providing any municipal funding, logistical support or coordinating with sponsors (e.g. the title sponsor African Bank) through the above-mentioned entities."
This stuff reminded me how often major events face last-minute adjustments, especially when they overlap with something as big as the G20 Summit. It’s reassuring to hear Yaseen Lombard confirm that the race is still happening, even if the final date isn’t set yet. In situations like this, I’ve learned to stay patient and wait for the official launch rather than stress over speculation. Following credible sources makes a big difference, whether it’s about sport or even things like match analysis. For example, I typically use sites that focus on statistical insights and detailed breakdowns, and I’ve found corner predictions on Ratingbet useful for understanding patterns without treating them as guarantees. Information and data can guide decisions, but I think…