The Comrades Marathon race will go ahead as planned despite suggestions that the annual “ultimate human race” may be cancelled over internal divisions and legal battles within the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA).
Internal tensions within the CMA culminated in the resignation of four board members this week alone.
In June, the association was rocked by allegations of racism when board member Zinhle Sokhela accused former acting race director Ann Ashworth on a social media platform of hiring only white candidates.
Ashworth left the CMA at the end of June after her contract came to an end, with the association stating that allegations made by Sokhela had no bearing on her departure.
KZN Athletics (KZNA) president Steve Mkasi said when Ashworth’s contract came to an end, the CMA offered her an extended three-month contract which she first declined, then changed her mind and accepted.
However, he said after the CMA consulted with its lawyers, it was decided that the offer was no longer on the table as she had initially declined. On August 15, during a special general meeting between the CMA board and its membership, Sokhela submitted her resignation. This week, it was claimed that Mkasi threatened that next year’s race may be cancelled if issues within the association are not resolved.
Speaking to “The Mercury” on Thursday, Mkasi said KZNA requires clubs and members hosting events to apply by a certain date for the events to be on the calendar for the following year.
“The CMA, which is a Special Member of KZNA by special dispensation granted to it in 2000, has applied on time. And as things stand, the race is happening on 8 June, 2025,” he said.
According to Mkasi , the relationship between the CMA and KZNA remains as was agreed in the year 2000 and the race will happen in accordance with their constitution.
“We will continue, working together with the CMA, to find synergy between our two constitutions in aligning them to the ASA constitution and domestic rules,” he said.
Mkasi said that as KZNA worked to support the CMA in dealing with issues of the constitutions, planning for the race continues.
“Athletes who love the Ultimate Human Race must train and prepare for the 98th running of the race. The over 5 000 volunteers who assist in the staging of the event and all the sponsors, must get ready to deliver another epic event,” said Mkasi.
When asked about the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting between KZNA and the CMA, Mkasi said those discussions were confidential.
However, he said there remained no dispute between the CMA and KZNA, despite an ongoing court matter.
“The ongoing court case is between members of the CMA who took both the CMA and KZNA to court,” he said.
Mkasi confirmed that since the resignation of Sokhela, four more board members resigned from the CMA this week, including the association’s chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo and the vice-chairperson Les Burnard. The CMA did not respond to a request for comment.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) spokesperson Sifiso Cele said on Wednesday ASA took the initiative and wrote to KZN Athletics asking them to appraise ASA on current matters concerning the CMA and the Comrades Marathon itself.
“Based on the response from KZN Athletics once received, ASA will determine whether a further comment to your enquiry is necessary or not,” he said.
The Mercury