Pretoria Court Interdict Bars Trust as Soweto Marathon Goes Ahead

Overview

• The Pretoria High Court granted an urgent interdict on Friday restraining the Soweto Marathon Trust from disrupting, inciting disruption, or intimidating participants, and ordered it to pay costs.
• The African Bank Soweto Marathon, organised by the NPC, is proceeding at Nasrec on Saturday with City of Johannesburg backing and JMPD traffic and safety measures in place.
• SMT spokesperson Stan Itshegetseng publicly threatened a demonstration at the race and said a police case was opened, as the Trust contests the transfer of control.
• CGA told the court about roughly 30,000 registered athletes and argued that unspecified protests posed a safety risk and could affect qualification opportunities.
• City officials met with African Bank and the Trust overnight, with stakeholders pledging to protect the race’s future and continuity despite the ongoing governance dispute.