African Bank, the headline sponsor of the Soweto Marathon, has confirmed that this year’s 42.2km male and female winners will each receive R250,000 in prize money. The iconic race is scheduled to take place on 29 November at Nasrec, with the bank assuring both athletes and fans that all race-related costs including prize payouts are fully secured.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, African Bank reaffirmed its unwavering support for the event despite the ongoing conflict between the Soweto Marathon Trust (SMT) and the Non-Profit Company (NPC) over hosting rights for the 42.2km, 21.1km, and 10km categories.
Chief Marketing Officer Sbusiso Khumalo told SABC Sport that the bank’s involvement remains focused on ensuring the marathon runs smoothly and that athletes are rewarded fairly.
“The disagreements between the two parties don’t involve us. Our role is to make sure the race happens and that the winners receive their prize money,” Khumalo explained. “We have a three-year sponsorship deal and plan to renew it when it ends next year.”
Ensuring a Smooth and Enjoyable Race
Khumalo emphasized that African Bank’s sponsorship directly benefits the event logistics from funding prize money and service providers to supplying race T-shirts and water stations.
“We sponsored three watering points last year and plan to increase that this year. The prize money remains R250,000. We’re here for the runners and the people of Soweto to make sure everyone enjoys a great race,” he said.
While disputes threaten the marathon’s long-term future, Khumalo reassured the public that African Bank’s commitment stands firm.
“We didn’t step in out of panic we came in to give back to our customers who have supported us for years. We’ll do everything possible to ensure the race continues. We are not politicians; our job is to make the race financially possible,” he added.
Soweto Marathon – Bigger Prize Money in the Future
Looking ahead, Khumalo expressed his ambition to see the Soweto Marathon’s prize pool grow even larger in the coming years.
“My goal is to see this race offer R1 million in prize money one day. We’re working closely with the organizers to achieve that but it has to be done responsibly,” he concluded.
With African Bank’s backing, runners and fans can look forward to another memorable edition of the Soweto Marathon, a race that continues to celebrate resilience, community, and the enduring spirit of Soweto.
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