Despite a clear directive from Athletics South Africa (ASA) that the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) “falls under the jurisdiction of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA)”, a members special general meeting (SGM) has been lined up to decide on the affiliation.
After a meeting involving the three parties, the CMA released a statement in which it declared itself “keen to work with any organisation providing support and input to this iconic South African event, which injects billions into the economy”.
Yet contrary to a statement released by the sport’s governing body from the same meeting, CMA chairperson Mark Leathers said no firm decisions were made and that it would be convening a members’ meeting on August 1, where its members would decide on the athletics federation’s affiliation.
Sunday World reported last week on the impasse between the CMA and KZN Athletics, with the CMA saying KZN
Athletics owed it levies for the 2026 race.
The CMA had apparently been offered a potential direct special membership to ASA by now-suspended president James Moloi, a move that has since been scuppered.
After the meeting two weeks ago, the ASA said it was agreed that the date of next year’s centenary race – announced by the CMA as June 13 – “must be discussed with and approved by KZN Athletics” and that “the Comrades Marathon Association falls under the jurisdiction of KZNA as the recognised provincial athletics authority”.
It added that “any purported approval of the race date attributed to any official of ASA, outside the prescribed governance processes, is declared null and void”.
The ASA remains the sole custodian of athletics in South Africa and all athletics events must be sanctioned through it and its recognised provincial structures.
- Athletics South Africa (ASA) directed that the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) falls under KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) jurisdiction, but CMA plans a members' meeting on August 1 to decide on the affiliation.
- CMA expressed willingness to collaborate with any supportive organization to maintain the economic benefits of the iconic marathon.
- No firm decisions were made in the recent meeting between ASA, KZNA, and CMA, contrary to ASA's statement, leading to ongoing uncertainty.
- CMA claimed KZN Athletics owes levies for the 2026 race; a proposed special direct membership to ASA by suspended president James Moloi was nullified.
- ASA affirmed that the 2025 race date must be approved by KZN Athletics, emphasized that only it sanctions events, and invalidated any unauthorized race date approvals.
Despite a clear directive from
After a meeting involving the three parties, the CMA released a statement in which it declared itself “keen to work with any organisation providing support and input to this iconic
Yet contrary to a statement released by the sport’s governing body from the same meeting, CMA chairperson Mark
After the meeting two weeks ago, the ASA said it was agreed that the date of next year’s centenary race – announced by the CMA as June 13 – “must be discussed with and approved by KZN
It added that “any purported approval of the race date attributed to any official of ASA, outside the prescribed governance processes, is declared null and void”.
In 2024 a race director by the name of Ann Ashworth was fired by the comrades board, a decision which infuriated certain people who started concocting stories of maladministration and kleptocracy, of people stealing pencils and staples (imagine). This is a cabal that is hellbent on taking over ownership of the Comrades. What they are pushing for is an anomaly. All races register with their home province.