Athletics clubs plan to form trust to run Soweto Marathon

SOWETO athletics clubs are forming a trust to run the celebrated Soweto Marathon.

Banele Sindani, former Athletics SA (ASA) CEO and one of the founder members of The People’s Race, is part of a group that will meet in Diepkloof on April 13 to start the process of registering the trust.

The marathon was started by former ASA president Leonard Chuene in 1992, along with Horatjio Motjuwadi, Robert Mthembu, Thatayami Mokgoiwa, Pam Taiton, Peter Zwane and Shadrack Morgan — who were involved as part of the Soweto Athletics Concerned Group.

Sindani and former ASA development officer Boycie Ntlwane came on board the following year with Sowetan newspaper as sponsor of the event.

The township clubs have been in a longrunning dispute with ASA and Central Gauteng Athletics over who is in control of the popular race. “Soweto athletics clubs want to claim what is rightfully theirs. We cannot just fold our arms while the Soweto Marathon is being destroyed by people who do not know the history of this unique marathon,” said Sindani. “This is the only standard marathon (42.2km) taking place in a township. We have decided to form a trust to run the affairs of the marathon, which has also been endorsed by the community as one of the events advertising Soweto locally and globally.

“One of the issues topping the agenda of the April 13 meeting is the registering of a trust. We will also be able to announce the names of the trustees after the meeting,” he said. “The Soweto Marathon can run all its activities without a single problem. The good thing is that the marathon is already a brand known in the US, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Ethiopia, Lesotho and Swaziland.

“We want to see the Soweto Marathon growing to attract more than 50,000, like the London Marathon, New York Marathon and Berlin Marathon, where charity organisations will also benefit from proceeds of the event,” said the former banker.