// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Soweto Marathon say to the runner? You're sow slow.

Soweto Marathon
Date	November
Location	Soweto, South Africa
Event type	Road
Distance	Marathon (42 km)
Primary sponsor	African Bank
Established	1991 (1991)
Course records	Men: 2:16:28 (2012)   Shadrack Kipchirchir  Women: 2:33:43 (2018)   Irvette van Zyl
Official site	sowetomarathon.com

The African Bank Soweto Marathon is a 42 kilometres (26 mi) marathon long-distance run held annually in Soweto, South Africa. Nicknamed The People's Race, its distances include a marathon, 21K half marathon, and 10K run starting at Nasrec Expo Centre and finishing at FNB Stadium.

Winners

Men

Key:   Current course record

Year	Winner	Time	Country
2025	Khoarahlane Seutloali	2:20:10	Lesotho
2024	Onalenna Khonkhobe	2:18:36	South Africa
2023	Ntsindiso Mphakathi	2:19:13	South Africa
2022	Daba Ifa Debele	2:18:58	Ethiopia
—	cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019	Debeko Dakamo Dasa	2:18:35	Ethiopia
2018	Sintayehu Legese Yinesu (4)	2:19:10	Ethiopia
2017	Tsepo Mathibele	2:19:41	Lesotho
2016	Sintayehu Legese Yinesu (3)	2:20:44	Ethiopia
2015	Sintayehu Legese Yinesu (2)	2:23:20	Ethiopia
2014	Sintayehu Legese Yinesu	2:17:55	Ethiopia
—	cancelled in 2013
2012	Shadrack Kipchirchir	2:16:28	Kenya
2011	Michael Mazibuko	2:19:04	South Africa
2010	Lebenya Nkoko	2:19:44	Lesotho
2009	Tsidiso Bosiu	2:18:10	South Africa
2008	Moses Mosuhli	2:19:34	Lesotho
2007	Teboho Sello	2:18:51	Lesotho
2006	Mabuthile Lebopo (2)	2:19:10	Lesotho
2005	Simon Tsotang	2:20:15	Lesotho
2004	Mabuthile Lebopo	2:18:05	Lesotho
2003	Elijah Mutandiro (2)	2:17:19	Zimbabwe
2002	Elijah Mutandiro	2:19:43	Zimbabwe
2001	Mluleki Nobanda	2:19:17	South Africa
2000	Honest Mutsakani	2:18:28	Zimbabwe
1999	Joshua Peterson (2)	2:18:18	South Africa
1998	Joshua Peterson	2:19:17	South Africa
1997	Abel Mokibe (2)	2:18:42	South Africa
1996	Abel Mokibe	2:19:58	South Africa
1995	Zithulele Sinqe	2:18:03	South Africa
1994	Jan Tau	2:19:12	South Africa
1993	Matthews Temane	2:22:01	South Africa
—	not held
1991	Jerry Modiga	-	South Africa

Women

Key:   Current course record

Year	Winner	Time	Country
2025	Margaret Jepchumba	2:34:33	Kenya
2024	Neheng Khatala	2:43:07	Lesotho
2023	Irvette van Zyl (4)	2:34:16	South Africa
2022	Chaltu Bedo	2:40:56	Ethiopia
—	cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic
2019	Irvette van Zyl (3)	2:34:01	South Africa
2018	Irvette van Zyl (2)	2:33:43	South Africa
2017	Irvette van Zyl	2:4106	South Africa
2016	Selam Abere	2:42:32	Ethiopia
2015	Harriet Chebore	2:49:52	Kenya
2014	Meseret Mengistu	2:36:02	Ethiopia
—	cancelled in 2013
2012	Mamorallo Tjoka (7)	2:45:20	Lesotho
2011	Mamorallo Tjoka (6)	2:43:40	Lesotho
2010	Mamorallo Tjoka (5)	2:48:36	Lesotho
2009	Rene Kalmer	2:44:06	South Africa
2008	Mamorallo Tjoka (4)	2:53:48	Lesotho
2007	Mamorallo Tjoka (3)	2:47:57	Lesotho
2006	Mamorallo Tjoka (2)	2:47:00	Lesotho
2005	Mamorallo Tjoka	2:49:45	Lesotho
2004	Charne Rademeyer (2)	2:48:32	South Africa
2003	Charne Rademeyer	2:44:53	South Africa
2002	Farwah Mentoor	2:50:33	South Africa
2001	Gwen van Lingen	2:45:37	South Africa
2000	Sarah Mahlangu (4)	2:56:47	South Africa
1999	Sarah Mahlangu (3)	2:49:49	South Africa
1998	Angelina Sephooa	2:49:55	Lesotho
1997	Sarah Mahlangu (2)	2:45:48	South Africa
1996	Sarah Mahlangu	2:56:53	South Africa
1995	Jowaine Parrott	2:50:17	South Africa
1994	Helen Joubert (2)	2:53:14	South Africa
1993	Helen Joubert	2:57:28	South Africa

Sponsorship

The marathon is sponsored by African Bank.

Financial mismanagement

As of May 2026, athletes had not received any prize money for the November 2025 marathon. Sports minister Gayton McKenzie stated that the department would be opening a criminal case against the organisers.