'We've engaged everybody' - All systems go as Soweto Marathon organisers, taxi association, hostel indunas, CPF, SAPS, JMPD and CoJ prepare to welcome 18 000 runners

Race director Danny Blumberg – marking a decade at the helm of the People's Race – confirmed the landmark move on Wednesday, describing it as a necessary step to keep Soweto's streets moving on a bustling month-end weekend. Blumberg explained that staging the race on a Saturday, combined with the usual end-of-month traffic surge, meant organisers of the 2025 Africanbank Soweto Marathon had to rethink how to manage the flow of runners through the township.

"We've spent a lot of time on this year's race, making sure our planning and preparations were in order. We are working closely with the various Community Policing fora across Soweto. They will be on the route making sure all our runners are safe on their journey. We've spoken to the City of Johannesburg, JMPD and JRA. We are ready to go for Saturday's vent," Blumberg told #TheTopRunner.

Mbuli talks to the media during the pre-race press conference which took place at the race venue (Nasrec Expo Centre) on Wednesday 26 November. Photo Credit: Africanbank Soweto Marathon.

The runners will toe the line in the main race at 05:00, with the 21.1km following at 06:00. The 10km will start at 07:00. Blumberg said the revision of start times from the traditional 05:30 start for the 42km race was mitigated by several factors including the expectation that it will be hotter at the end of November as compared with the first Sunday in November when the race was traditionally staged.

By enforcing time barriers on each distance, he said, the marathon aims to reduce gridlocks, improve safety and ensure residents; businesses and all athletes enjoy a smoother race day experience.

"The halfway cut-off for the 42km will be three hours 20 minutes after the start gun is fired, meaning that at any runners who fail to reach 21,1km by 08:20 will be asked to get into one of the bailer busses. Another cut-off is at four hours 25 minutes outside the Orlando Stadium. That means runners not passed that point by 09:25 will be asked to jump onto the bailer van," said Blumberg.

Zinhle Zulu Africanbank Head of Brand opens the pre-race expo to much fanfare and celebration. Photo Credit: Africanbank Soweto Marathon.

Soweto Marathon spokesperson Jabu Mbuli, said around 18 000 runners are expected to take part in the 30th edition of The People's Race, adding that after months of turbulence, he was relieved that the race is going ahead with the safety of all the participants top of mind.

"As off today (November 26), we are sitting on over 17 000 entries," he said as he went on to name their long list of stakeholders who include the local taxi association. "We've engaged everybody. We've spoken to the hostel indunas like we always do. We've engaged the communities through their CPF structures. We've spoken to the City of Johannesburg, who is the custodian of everything that happens in the city," said Mbuli.