Sports minister Gayton McKenzie announced plans to temporarily take over the Soweto Marathon and ensure prize money is paid to elite athletes. He spoke during a virtual press conference on 12 May while presenting his department's 2026/27 budget vote.
McKenzie said the department would not let the event “die in our hands” and would redirect funding from other projects if needed to pay winners from the November 2025 race. Nearly six months later, elite podium finishers including Gerda Steyn have still not received their prize money.
The minister outlined a three-part strategy. Officials will meet next week with the Soweto Marathon Non-Profit Company and Athletics South Africa to investigate the payment failure. The department also intends to open criminal cases against the organisers and then hand the event to new governance structures.
Steyn said preparing for the race meant turning down other international opportunities, leaving her with no income after finishing on the podium. McKenzie noted that runners already spend about a quarter of expected prize money on training, transport and coaching before the event.
The announcement follows prolonged disputes over control of the marathon between the Soweto Marathon Trust, Central Gauteng Athletics and the non-profit company appointed to run the 2025 edition.
