Ntsindiso Mphakathi yet to receive Soweto Marathon prize money

Mphakathi, who made history in 2023 by ending South Africa’s 12-year wait for a male winner of the Soweto Marathon, finished second in the 2025 edition at Nasrec on 29 November.

However, almost a year later, the Entsika Running Club athlete is still waiting for his money.

What makes the situation even more painful for Mphakathi is that he received his R250 000 prize for winning the 2023 race within a month.

Speaking to SABC Sport on Thursday morning, the disappointed runner said he was struggling to come to terms with the situation.

"Nothing, I have not been paid. There has been no communication, no phone call, no text message or even a WhatsApp message. It is just quiet, and I feel like crying. Everything is at a standstill.

"I was hoping to use the money for my training camp in December and Christmas with my family, but I am stuck," he said.

Mphakathi, who celebrated his successful 2025 season with a ceremony in his home village, is now struggling to repay money he borrowed to organise the celebration.

He says he went ahead with the ceremony believing that his prize money would be paid by February, but that hope has turned into disappointment.

"It is painful because I organised a ceremony knowing that I would receive my money. Now, how am I going to pay back the money I borrowed for that ceremony?" he asked.

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The former champion believes athletes should not suffer because of disagreements and internal battles among the Soweto Marathon organisers.

He has urged those responsible to put their differences aside and honour their financial commitments to the runners.

"They should not involve athletes in their issues. They invited us to run, and they must leave the athletes out of their problems. They should pay us our money and deal with their politics.

"There is no communication, and I have lost hope of ever getting my money," he added.

Mphakathi believes the Soweto Marathon has lost some of its dignity, describing it as particularly painful for someone who comes from Soweto to speak negatively about a race that means so much to the community.

He says there are important lessons for athletes to learn from the experience, including researching a race's payment history before accepting an invitation to compete.

"The money is gone, and nobody seems willing to take responsibility for this mess. We have to do our research about a race's payment history before entering in the future.

The financial difficulties have also affected his racing plans. Mphakathi revealed that he had hoped to compete in another race in Polokwane, but its postponement left him without another opportunity to earn money."