Two world-class marathon runners are doubtful if they will ever see the R1m prize money that was promised to the winners of the controversial Mpumalanga Marathon last year.

After six months of waiting the men’s and women’s race winners, Jobo Khatoane of the Maxed Elite Club in Lesotho and Tadu Nare from Ethiopia, 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.

Runners launch class action

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) was also reported to World Athletics (WO formerly the IAAF) 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.

Speaking to Lowvelder 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.

He said Nare cancelled an appearance at the Sydney Marathon in Australia to take part in the Mpumalanga Marathon.

“She lost $40 000 (an estimated R750 000) as an appearance fee.”

According to Alemayehu, the group of unpaid athletes will appoint an attorney to assist in the legal action.

Service providers claim they have not been paid

Lekhuleni, a former National Lottery employee, previously told this publication that he is still in negotiations with last year’s sponsors regarding the 2024 prize money.

Lowvelder established that Lekhuleni will not be organising the Mpumalanga Marathon this year.

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, said.

One of the reasons Lekhuleni gave for not being able to 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.

SARS,😖 pic.twitter.com/G6lBVLWrGG

— Mpumalanga Marathon (@MpumalangaRuns) December 5, 2024

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.

Around 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.

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.

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 is inactive.

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