Thembisa Mile unites community, inspires new runners

Since its inception, the Thembisa Mile has become a significant event for the community, providing development opportunities for athletes from the three Thembisa-based athletics clubs.

What began as a modest race with fewer than 1 000 participants has now attracted up to 3 000 pre-entries, a reflection of its growing popularity and the trust the community has in the event’s safety and organisation.

This year, participants and spectators can expect a new finish area on West View Road, designed to ensure seamless entry and exit into the Olifantsfontein Sports Ground.bThe event promotes health and fitness by motivating people to train in the weeks leading up to the race, improving their endurance and overall well-being. Local businesses and sponsors play a pivotal role, providing financial and logistical support that makes the event possible, while the race itself continues to showcase the township’s spirit and pride. “The name itself promotes Thembisa,” said race organiser Donald Mathipa, noting that the township’s area code, 1632, inspired it.

For first-time participants, his advice is simple: “Run your own race.”
The community’s support has been pivotal to the race’s success over the years, creating a sense of ownership and pride among residents.
This year’s competition is expected to be strong, with multiple SA 10km champion Precious Mashele making his Thembisa 10km debut, and Karabo Mailula aiming to defend her women’s title. Local runners typically spend six to eight weeks preparing, with long runs, time trials and build-up races.

Winning the Thembisa Mile carries significant prestige, offering athletes bragging rights due to the race’s high standard and popularity.
The event also inspires young and upcoming township runners. Seeing athletes who compete internationally participate fills them with hope and ambition.
Organising a race of this scale requires careful planning, starting the day after the previous race, and basic resources, such as airtime and data to communicate with sponsors.

On race day, safety, traffic and crowd control are ensured through 50 marshals at critical junctions and 30 metro police officers. Some 300 volunteers support participants with registration, water points, parking and other essential services.
Improvements this year include the new 1 Mile route around the Olifantsfontein Sports Ground, designed to enhance the race experience.
Memorable moments from past events include the 2022 race, when two local athletes had a close battle to the finish line, leaving technical officials to decide the winner.

The race unites people from all backgrounds, reflecting Nelson Mandela’s belief that sport has the power to unite communities, regardless of political, religious or social differences.

Looking ahead, Mathipa hopes to attract 10 000 participants by 2030 and create temporary employment opportunities for athletes.
Asked to describe the race in three words, he simply said, “It’s a running party.”

Milestone edition for Thembisa Mile

The 2025 Thembisa Mile marks an impressive milestone for the township’s premier running event, celebrating the 13th edition of the 1 Mile race and the 10th running of the 10km road race.

At this year’s launch, race organiser Donald Mathipa reflected on the event’s growth and reaffirmed the team’s commitment to making the Thembisa Mile the leading road-running event in the township.

“Our main objective is to make the race the pinnacle of activities for elite athletes and everyday runners, walkers, and joggers,” said Mathipa. “We achieve this by offering good prize money for our elite athletes, as well as goodie bags and medals for our community participants.”

He explained that innovation and efficiency continue to play a vital role in improving the race-day experience. “The use of technology for registration and providing race results instantly as runners cross the finish line helps us attract more participants, as many submit their results for loyalty programmes,” he added.

Mathipa credited the event’s success to teamwork and collaboration across clubs and communities. “We value collaboration and teamwork. That’s why we have 300 volunteers ensuring that runners’ needs are catered for, from parking and registration to marshalling, water points and cleaning,” he said. The smooth running of the event is made possible through the combined efforts of Thembisa Athletics Club, Ivory Park Athletics Club, Rainbow Athletics Club, and neighbouring township clubs from Alexandra, Diepsloot and Daveyton.
The Thembisa Mile has also become a celebration of diversity, drawing runners from across South Africa and neighbouring SADC countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. “While some athletes compete for prize money, others take the opportunity to explore our township by foot,” said Mathipa with pride.
He acknowledged that, like most sporting events, securing financial support remains a challenge in the current economy, and expressed deep gratitude to sponsors for their continued backing. “Thanks to all our sponsors for making it easier for us by covering the most important items of the race,” he said.

Beyond the competition, the race also plays a vital role in supporting athletic development in the community. This year, organisers aim to raise R50 000 for Thembisa Athletics Club’s development programme, which hosts two annual training camps, one during the June/July school holidays and another in December, to prepare athletes for the track and cross-country seasons. The club also runs the Peak Performance Talk, inviting elite athletes to inspire and motivate young runners to reach their full potential.

“Our journey is about more than just running,” concluded Mathipa. “It’s about building a legacy of excellence, opportunity, and community pride for Thembisa.”