Dr Mathews Phosa Half Marathon runners lace up for legacy in White River | Mpumalanga News

The Dr Mathews Phosa Half Marathon brought together runners for a worthy cause and a true test of endurance on Saturday, August 23.
Hosted at Rob Ferreira High School, the event attracted hundreds of athletes and was described by Dr Mathews Phosa as one of the biggest since its launch.

Organised by the Mpumalanga NPO Association, the half-marathon was introduced in 2023 to honour Mpumalanga’s first premier. Beyond celebrating his legacy, the race also aims to promote community upliftment by recognising South African legends across all sectors of society.

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The participants enjoyed a runner’s campsite, boot camp, goodie bags and a lively music festival alongside the main event.

The 21.1km half-marathon started and finished at the school, with a challenging route that took the runners towards the Lydenburg road.
In the men’s 21km, Hosea Maiyo claimed victory in 01:08:50, narrowly ahead of Samuel Mathabatha (01:08:59). Thomas Ekiru followed in third with 01:09:27.

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In the women’s 21km, Nomvula Sithole took first place in 01:26:42, with Glad Chipchisere second (01:27:35) and Rosaline Isaiah third (01:30:36). In the 21km 50+ category, Jerry Ntimba led the men with a time of 01:37:18, while Madeleine Whitehair won the women’s race in 01:51:16. The 10km men’s category saw a thrilling finish, with Abednico Mashaba winning in 32:06, just ahead of Prince Ndlovu (32:06) and Samkelo Ngobese (32:08). In the women’s 10km, Vanessa Mkhabela placed first in 44:28, followed by Sandra Mashaba (44:51) and Reneilwe Dibakwane (46:00).

The day also featured a fun run, short-distance events for persons living with disabilities and a legend’s football game.