Staff Reporter|Published
Hopetown runner Arthur Jantjies left his rivals behind in the final 2km to claim the inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon on Sunday, securing his third Cape Town victory of the year with a personal-best time of 2:15:14.
Ethiopia’s Bize Beyira Negasa delivered an equally impressive performance in the women’s race, winning by more than seven minutes as both champions conquered blustery conditions on the streets of the Mother City.
Jantjies, who runs for Pan African Resources Club, added the marathon title to his Two Oceans Ultra Marathon and 10km Peace Run victories, which he secured in April and May respectively.
Negasa crossed the finish line in 2:36:42, setting a personal best and finishing 7 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of South Africa’s Malineo Mahloko.
The marathon attracted 4 500 entrants, while another 22 000 athletes took part in the 21km, 10km and 5km events.
Jantjies makes decisive move in final kilometres
The 42km route took runners past some of Cape Town’s best-known landmarks, including District Six, the Company’s Garden, Bo-Kaap, Sea Point Promenade and the Table Bay shoreline to Woodbridge Island in Milnerton.
A headwind challenged runners during the opening kilometres before the route turned west and the southeasterly wind helped push the leading contenders along.
Jantjies remained among a leading group of 30 men through the first 21km. The field began to break apart after the turn at Woodbridge Island, 33km into the race.
With 2km remaining, only Tsépo Ramashamole and Moses Tarakinyu remained in contact with Jantjies.
“At the 40-kilometre mark I made my move,” Jantjies said. “I thought that was the moment to empty the tank! I love running in Cape Town. The Mother City is very nurturing to me.”
Jantjies said his goal had been to improve his personal best.
“The plan for today was to try to run a new personal best, and I achieved that, so I’m really happy with how the race went,” he said.
“I had a few niggles coming into my Nelson Mandela Marathon training camp, but I can look back now and say the camp went really well.”
His winning time was four and a half minutes faster than his previous personal best over the marathon distance.
Ramashamole finished second in 2:15:24, just 10 seconds behind Jantjies, while Tarakinyu took third in 2:15:34.
Simon Sibeko finished fourth in 2:15:59, followed by Siboniso Sikhakhane in 2:16:11.
Negasa wins women’s race by more than seven minutes
Negasa maintained a pace of about 3 minutes 40 seconds per kilometre for most of the race, running alongside the pacemaker.
Malineo Mahloko, Fortunate Chidzivo and Ethel Pangiso initially kept pace with the Ethiopian, but all three dropped away over the following 11km.
By halfway, Negasa led by nearly eight minutes.
Mahloko struggled during the middle stages before surging past Chidzivo and Pangiso in the closing kilometres. However, her late charge was not enough to catch Negasa.
The Ethiopian crossed the finish line in 2:36:42, nearly four minutes faster than her previous personal best.
Mahloko finished second in 2:43:53, while Chidzivo took third in 2:49:55. Monique van der Merwe was fourth, followed by Pangiso in fifth.
African runners claim half-marathon titles
Kenya’s Stephen Ngigi Kangethe won the men’s Slave Route Half Marathon in 1:03:58, finishing 2 minutes and 18 seconds ahead of Yanga Malusi. Rowhaldo Ratz took third.
Ethiopia’s Weynalem Haftu Gebre won the women’s half marathon in 1:13:41, finishing 8 minutes and 11 seconds ahead of Kirsti Bell. Trail runner Mila Geldenhuys completed the podium.
Hill-Lewis praises marathon turnout
Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis congratulated the Nelson Mandela Foundation on the inaugural marathon, praising the organisation of the event and the turnout of runners and spectators.
In a social media post on Sunday, Hill-Lewis said 26 600 runners had signed up for the first edition, adding that thousands of Capetonians had come out to support participants along the route.
“The atmosphere was festive,” he said, adding that “Koesister Hill was tough!”
Organisers welcome competitive racing
David Bellairs, chief operating officer of race organisers Galoza South Africa, said the performances were encouraging for the event’s future.
“It’s great to see South Africans and Africans excelling on home soil,” Bellairs said.
“A highly competitive men’s race and two personal bests from our champions, despite the difficult conditions, bodes well for the future of the Nelson Mandela Marathon as a race which can attract the continent’s best marathoners.”
2026 Nelson Mandela Marathon Results
Men’s Marathon Results
- Arthur Jantjies: Pan African Resources Club (2:15:14)
- Tsépo Ramashamole: Durban (2:15:24 | +10)
- Moses Tarakinyu: Akasia (2:15:34 | +20)
- Simon Sibeko: Nedbank Running Club Central North West (2:15:59 | +45)
- Siboniso Sikhakhane: Entsika AC CG (2:16:11 | +57)
- Lebenya Nkoka: Durban (2:18:31 | +3:17)
- Ntsebenza Nake: Phantane AC (2:18:53 | +3:39)
- Tumelo Motlagale: Phantane AC (2:19:22 | +4:08)
- Sithembiso Mqhele: Nedbank Club Kwa-Zulu Natal (2:19:47 | +4:33)
- Benjamin Nyongesa: Akasia (2:20:16 | +5:02)
Women’s Marathon Results
- Bize Beyira Negasa: Nedbank Running Club (2:36:42)
- Malineo Mahloko: Durban (2:43:53 | +7:11)
- Fortunate Chidzivo: Akasia (2:49:55 | +13:13)
- Monique van der Merwe: Social Runners Club KZN (2:50:07 | +13:25)
- Ethel Pangiso: Akasia (2:53:24 | +16:42)
- Ilse Marais: Nedbank Running Club CG (2:55:27 | +18:45)
- Jenna Spooner: Maverick Athletic Club CGA (2:58:26 | +21:44)
- Renata Vosloo: Ubora Athletics Club Johannesburg (2:58:59 | +22:17)
- Gina Pocock: Ubora Athletics Club Johannesburg (3:06:01 | +29:19)
- Samantha SHABALALA: FOURWAYS ROAD RUNNERS (3:06:56 | +30:14)
Slave Route Half Marathon
Men’s Results
- Stephen Ngigi Kangethe: Akasia (1:03:58)
- Yanga Malusi: Go Tyme Bank Run Club (1:06:16 | +2:18)
- Rowhaldo Ratz: Go Tyme Bank Run Club (1:06:19 | +2:21)
Women’s Results
- Weynalem Haftu Gebre: Akasia (1:13:41)
- Kirsti Bell: Kovsies Club (1:21:52 | +8:11)
- Mila Geldenhuys: Go Tyme Bank Run Club (1:23:45 | +10:04)