|
NEDBANK GREEN DREAM TEAM IN THE SPOTLIGHT: NELSON MANDELA MARATHON, CAPE TOWN
Organised by Golazo in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the race was launched in May at Cape Town City Hall, where Madiba gave his first public address after his release from prison in 1990. It is billed as the world's first values-based running series centred on human rights, built around the ideals that defined Mandela's life and leadership: dignity, courage, justice, equality, solidarity and freedom. As the Foundation's Chief Executive, Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi, put it, it is "more than a race, it is an experience intentionally designed around Madiba's values and legacy."
 |
The weekend features four distances: the 42km Nelson Mandela Marathon, the 21km Slave Route Challenge Half Marathon, and 10km and 5km runs and walks. The well-established Slave Route Challenge, first run in 2011 and organised by Itheko Sport Athletic Club, now forms part of the weekend. All routes start on Strand Street in the city centre, and the courses pass landmarks such as the Castle of Good Hope, the Company's Garden, the Bo-Kaap and District Six, with runners passing reflections and quotes from Mandela's life along the way. The marathon is described as flat and fast, and all profits go to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Cape Town is the first chapter of a global series that will take the Nelson Mandela Marathon to other cities around the world from 2027.
Nedbank Running Club has a strong squad on the marathon entry list, with 12 men and 5 women lined up under the race's theme of Rise. Remember. Run. The team reads like a tour of the club's branches, with athletes from the Western Province, the Southern Cape, KZN, Central and North West, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Kenya, Ethiopia and further afield.
The men's field is packed with speed. Moses Tarakinyu (Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe), Simon Sibeko (Nedbank Running Club CNW), Namakoe Nkhasi (Nedbank Running Club Lesotho) and Puseletso Mofokeng (Nedbank Running Club CNW) all come in with listed best times between 2:08:26 and 2:13:31. Piet Wiersma (Nedbank Running Club International), Benjamin Nyongesa (Nedbank Running Club Kenya) and Owen Slowly (Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe) are all in the 2:17 to 2:18 range, with Sithembiso Mqhele and Pule Sibeko flying the flag for Nedbank Running Club KZN. The Southern Cape trio of Lloyd Bosman, Selwyn Matthews and Bruce Maboza complete the men's line-up.
In the women's race, Fortunate Chidzivo and Ethel Pangiso (both Nedbank Running Club Zimbabwe) hold the quickest listed marks at 2:33:30 and 2:35:38, with Bize Beyira Negasa (Nedbank Running Club Ethiopia) next on 2:40:50. Maretha Smit (2:48:23) and Ilse Marais (2:58:12) complete the women's line-up. We will bring you the results in next week's round-up, so keep an eye out for those green vests on Sunday.
@nelsonmandelamarathon #NelsonMandelaMarathon
#NedbankRunningClub #EliteProfile #MoreThanAClub
@nike @nikevision @biogen_sa @thirstiwater #NMI #GenesisNutrision
Click on the below images for athletes profiles
Males
Females
|
|
Nedbank Running Club Hospitality Gazebo at the
Nelson Mandela Marathon
Goodluck to all Nedbank Running Club athletes that will be running the Nelson Mandela Marathon on Sunday 18 October 2026.
The Nedbank Running Club - Cape Town will be your host for the day.
As soon as you finish your race, collect your medal, and exit the shoot find your way to the Nedbank RC Gazebo site that will be marked with Nedbank Running Club Feather flags where you will be greeted by Nedbank Running Club Cape Town committee members.
There will be some refreshing drinks, Snack and Thirsti water will be supplied
Enjoy your race
|
