Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has assured runners that the 100th Comrades Marathon will go ahead on 13 June 2027 despite an ongoing dispute between athletics federations.
McKenzie said government would provide the necessary support to ensure the historic race takes place, with entries already open and thousands of runners preparing for the event.
“The 100th running of the Comrades Marathon must go ahead, and it will go ahead. Enter the race. Book your accommodation. Tell your family to come and stand on that road,” he said.
The Comrades Marathon was first held in 1921 and has taken place every year except during the war years and the two years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2027 race will mark the 100th running of the event and the 50th edition of the traditional down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, finishing at the Kings Park precinct.
McKenzie said the race belonged to the runners, their families and the communities along the route, rather than any individual federation or association.
“This race has survived a world war and a pandemic. It is not going to be stopped by a disagreement between committees,” he said.
The Minister said government would guarantee the required state support, including event approvals, safety certification, traffic management, policing and emergency services.
He has directed the Department to work with the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Msunduzi Local Municipality to ensure operational arrangements are in place well ahead of June 2027.
No sanctions for runners
McKenzie has also called on Athletics South Africa (ASA) and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) to assure the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) that no athlete, club or technical official will face sanctions for entering, participating in or officiating at the centenary race.
“I will not have ordinary runners used as hostages in a fight they did not start,” McKenzie said.
The comments follow an online meeting involving the CMA, ASA, KZNA, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mntomuhle Khawula, and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
The dispute centres on the CMA's affiliation with KZNA.
At its November 2025 AGM, CMA members resolved to withdraw the Association's status as a Special Member of KZNA and seek direct affiliation with ASA. ASA declined the request and referred the CMA back to the provincial structure.
The issue was put to CMA members again at a special general meeting on 1 August 2026. Of more than 1 000 members who voted, 694 opposed re-affiliation with KZNA, while 338 supported it.
McKenzie said the CMA remained willing to work with both the national and provincial federations.
Government to tackle athletics governance
McKenzie described the dispute as a warning about broader governance problems within South African athletics.
“This is a wake-up call – to Athletics South Africa, to every federation in this country, and to us in government too,” he said.
The Minister confirmed that he and the Department had engaged World Athletics at senior level regarding athletics in South Africa.
He said government would work with World Athletics, SASCOC and KwaZulu-Natal authorities to address the underlying governance challenges beyond the 2027 Comrades Marathon.
“Government is not trying to run athletics. Government is trying to make sure there is athletics left worth running,” McKenzie said.
The Department will announce further steps in due course.
McKenzie said government would provide the necessary support to ensure the historic race takes place, with entries already open and thousands of runners preparing for the event.
“The 100th running of the Comrades Marathon must go ahead, and it will go ahead. Enter the race. Book your accommodation. Tell your family to come and stand on that road,” he said.
The Comrades Marathon was first held in 1921 and has taken place every year except during the war years and the two years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2027 race will mark the 100th running of the event and the 50th edition of the traditional down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, finishing at the Kings Park precinct.
McKenzie said the race belonged to the runners, their families and the communities along the route, rather than any individual federation or association.
“This race has survived a world war and a pandemic. It is not going to be stopped by a disagreement between committees,” he said.
The Minister said government would guarantee the required state support, including event approvals, safety certification, traffic management, policing and emergency services.
He has directed the Department to work with the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Msunduzi Local Municipality to ensure operational arrangements are in place well ahead of June 2027.
No sanctions for runners
McKenzie has also called on Athletics South Africa (ASA) and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) to assure the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) that no athlete, club or technical official will face sanctions for entering, participating in or officiating at the centenary race.
“I will not have ordinary runners used as hostages in a fight they did not start,” McKenzie said.
The comments follow an online meeting involving the CMA, ASA, KZNA, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mntomuhle Khawula, and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
The dispute centres on the CMA's affiliation with KZNA.
At its November 2025 AGM, CMA members resolved to withdraw the Association's status as a Special Member of KZNA and seek direct affiliation with ASA. ASA declined the request and referred the CMA back to the provincial structure.
The issue was put to CMA members again at a special general meeting on 1 August 2026. Of more than 1 000 members who voted, 694 opposed re-affiliation with KZNA, while 338 supported it.
McKenzie said the CMA remained willing to work with both the national and provincial federations.
Government to tackle athletics governance
McKenzie described the dispute as a warning about broader governance problems within South African athletics.
“This is a wake-up call – to Athletics South Africa, to every federation in this country, and to us in government too,” he said.
The Minister confirmed that he and the Department had engaged World Athletics at senior level regarding athletics in South Africa.
He said government would work with World Athletics, SASCOC and KwaZulu-Natal authorities to address the underlying governance challenges beyond the 2027 Comrades Marathon.
“Government is not trying to run athletics. Government is trying to make sure there is athletics left worth running,” McKenzie said.
The Department will announce further steps in due course.
