Unpaid millions: Mpumalanga Marathon organisers face class action
The organisers of the ‘richest’ marathon in South Africa are facing a class action from at least 15 runners who never received their prize money.
Two world-class marathon runners will probably never see the R1m prize money that was promised to the winners of the controversial Mpumalanga Marathon last year.
After six months of waiting, Jobo Khatoane of the Maxed Elite Club in Lesotho, and Tadu Nare from Ethiopia, the men’s and women’s race winners, are still out of pocket.
The marathon, promoted by organiser Caleb Lekhuleni as the ‘richest’ race on the South African marathon calendar, will not see the light of day again.
Not only will Lekhuleni and the Mpumalanga Marathon organisers now face a class action from at least 15 runners who never received their prize money, but Athletics South Africa (ASA) has also reported to World Athletics (WO) about the fiasco.
“We believe ASA must also take responsibility for the mess and that is why we called on WO to investigate and take action to ensure this never happens again,” said Belay Alemayehu, Tadu Nare’s manager.
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Speaking from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Alemayehu said they received many empty promises from Lekhuleni. “His story constantly changes as to why he has not paid out the prize money. We agreed to give him leeway until the end of February to pay up. He did not do so,” Alemayehu said in a telephonic interview with Lowvelder.
He said Nare cancelled an appearance at the Sydney Marathon in Australia to take part in the Mpumalanga Marathon. “She lost $40 000 (R750 000) as an appearance fee.”
According to Alemayehu, the group of unpaid athletes will appoint an attorney to assist in the legal action.
Despite Lekhuleni, a former employee of the National Lottery, still owing more than R5m to suppliers and runners alike, he is already boasting that the 2025 event is well on track and will be bigger and better than last year.
Lowvelder, however, established that this event will not happen.
Permission to host such an event must be given by ASA and its provincial affiliate, Athletics Mpumalanga (AM).
“We had already informed Lekhuleni in December that he has been banned from organising the Mpumalanga Marathon again,” Paul Bester, AM’s president, told Lowvelder.
Lekhuleni assured this paper that he is already in an advanced stage of negotiations with sponsors, and has even started promoting the event, apparently scheduled for September 29, on social media.
@lowvelder The winner of the 42.2km race at the Mpumalanga Marathon, Jobo Khatoane, shares his experience. #mpumalanga🇿🇦 #mpumalangamarathon #marathonwinner
Asked when the two R1m winners, as well as the rest of the top 10 runners in the men’s and women’s categories, and the suppliers, would be paid, Lekhuleni said he is still in negotiations with last year’s sponsors.
Last year he told his organising committee and the suppliers that the sponsorship funds were in the trust account of an attorney. However, he refused to tell Lowvelder which attorney.
@mpmarathon ARE YOU THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE?? #DayizenzaPlaza #RiversideMall #Marathon2024 #FitnessCommunity #RunningFestival #MpumalangaMarathon #mpmarathon #RaisingFundsForStrugglingAthletes #HalfMarathon Fisrts race in South Africa to pay ONE MILLION RAND to the winners of the 42.2km: 🌟 Mpumalanga Marathon 2024 🌟 📅 14 September 2024 🏞 Starting at Dayizenza Plaza, ending at Riverside Mall 🏃♂️ Distances: Full Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km Race 🎉 Join us for a vibrant running festival with local entertainment, food stalls, and more! 🌐 Register now at www.mpmarathon.co.za 📸 Follow us for updates and behind-the-scenes content! #MpumalangaMarathon #RunningFestival #FitnessCommunity #Marathon2024 #RiversideMall #DayizenzaPlaza
One of the reasons he gave when he could not fulfil his financial obligations last year was SARS’s alleged refusal to issue him a Section 18A certificate, which allows sponsors to write off their funding against tax. In a written reply, SARS referred Lowvelder to a list of organisations that qualify for a Section 18A certificate. The Mpumalanga Marathon is not on the list.
At least 13 service providers of the Mpumalanga Marathon are owed at least R2m. The prize money for the top 10 athletes in each category adds up to R3m.
@lowvelder The winner of the 42.2km race at the Mpumalanga Marathon, Jobo Khatoane, arrives at Riverside Mall. #mpumalangamarathon #marathon #marathonwinner #mpumalanga🇿🇦 #riversidemall
Born to Win Marathon Club, of which Lekhuleni is a member and under whose auspices he had organised the 2024 Mpumalanga Marathon, has started a disciplinary process against him. Bester said the club had indicated that it distanced itself from the fiasco.
ALSO READ: Tax issue results in marathon owing R1.4m to suppliers
Sibongile Nkosi, the spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR), said they are aware of the R5m, but that they would not intervene in the financial affairs of a private NGO.
@mpmarathon AT MPUMALANGA MARATHON NOBODY IS LEFT BEHIND. EVERYBODY WILL RECIEVE A GOODYBAG. GOODIE BAGS ARE IN PRINT AT EXTREME WEAR. Fisrts race in South Africa to pay ONE MILLION RAND to the winners of the 42.2km: 🌟 Mpumalanga Marathon 2024 🌟 📅 14 September 2024 🏞 Starting at Dayizenza Plaza, ending at Riverside Mall 🏃♂️ Distances: Full Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km Race 🎉 Join us for a vibrant running festival with local entertainment, food stalls, and more! 🌐 Register now at www.mpmarathon.co.za 📸 Follow us for updates and behind-the-scenes content! #MpumalangaMarathon #RunningFestival #FitnessCommunity #Marathon2024 #RiversideMall #DayizenzaPlaza
Nkosi confirmed that the sponsors had an urgent meeting with the DCSR HoD, Godfrey Ntombela.
“Lekhuleni explained his problem with SARS, and the department undertook to take the matter up with the Provincial Treasury. The treasury assisted and gave clarity that due to the nature of the enquiry, it cannot be involved in the tax affairs of an individual with SARS, and the message was communicated to Lekhuleni,” said Nkosi.
Chris Jacobs, one of the unpaid suppliers, opened a criminal case against Lekhuleni in November. However, he never received a case number or any feedback from the police. Lowvelder’s attempt to track down the docket proved fruitless.
Numerous questions were submitted to Lekhuleni last week. He, however, did not respond.
Lowvelder has established that he is currently out of the country.
The last post on the Mpumalanga Marathon Facebook page was on January 6. Their website has been suspended.
