Africa: Soweto Marathon Outstanding Prize Money - Athletes to Receive 'Partial' Payment

What the report says

Daily Maverick, in a report carried by AllAfrica, says athletes owed prize money from the 2025 Soweto Marathon may soon receive a partial payment, about eight months after the race. The update follows a 17 July statement by Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA), the provincial athletics body involved in the matter.

According to the report, CGA said it met the beneficiary clubs of the Soweto Marathon on 11 May to get an update from organisers on the unpaid winnings. The body also restated that it will not sanction the 2026 race until unresolved governance issues have been addressed. That decision is significant because sanctioning is a key step for an officially recognised athletics event.

CGA said organisers indicated that some money from the 2024 Soweto Marathon is available and is being held by the Gauteng Sports Confederation. The available amount is not enough to cover the full outstanding prize money, but CGA said it has engaged the confederation to help release and distribute what is available to affected athletes as soon as reasonably possible.

The report does not state how much is owed, how much is available for partial payment, or when athletes will be paid. The dispute matters because delayed prize payments can affect athlete trust, event credibility and the ability of future editions of major road races to proceed under recognised athletics structures.