Soweto Marathon winners in South Africa still have not received R1.2 million — Daily Maverick
Nearly a year after the race on November 29, 2025, the winners of the Soweto Marathon in Soweto, South Africa, still have not received a total of about R1.2 million in prize money. The Central Gauteng Athletics Association (CGA) planned to make partial payments using approximately R740,000 in surplus funds linked to the 2024 race, but the transfer was delayed.
As Daily Maverick reports, the money is held by the Gauteng Sports Confederation. CGA general manager Mandla Radebe said the partial payment was considered a temporary measure while broader governance and financial issues surrounding the marathon are being resolved. According to him, the process was delayed because the confederation was late in transferring the funds. The reasons for the delay were not disclosed.
Winners received no notifications
Joseph Seutloali of Lesotho, the winner of the men's race, is due to receive R250,000. Gerda Steyn and Onalenna Khonkhobe, who finished third in their respective races, are each expecting R90,000.
Seutloali's coach Andrew Buitendag and Khonkhobe's coach Pio Mpolokeng told the publication that they had received no direct communication from either CGA or the event organizer, the Soweto Marathon non-profit company. They learned about the possible plan for partial payments from media reports and public statements.
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Radebe said CGA is in contact with all stakeholders to find a mechanism for paying the prize money. He stressed that athletes should not suffer because of governance disputes.
Uncertainty over the next race
CGA could not confirm whether the Soweto Marathon will take place in 2026 with its sanctioning. The organization previously said it would not sanction future races until unresolved governance issues are properly settled.
African Bank, which is still listed as the main sponsor on some race calendar websites, said it had fulfilled all contractual obligations, including paying rights fees in full and on time. The bank noted that the distribution of prize money was the organizer's responsibility. African Bank also confirmed that there is no sponsorship contract for a potential 2026 race.
The dispute over control of the marathon has continued since 2023. The Soweto Marathon Trust considers itself the lawful custodian and owner of the event and disputes the authority of the structures that organized later races. Trust representative Stan Itshegetseng said the surplus funds held by the Gauteng Sports Confederation are an asset of the trust and cannot be used without its permission.
