In anticipation of the 2025 African Bank Soweto Marathon (ABSM), the African Bank announced a series of community initiatives in Soweto, aiming to empower youth, support small businesses, and enhance the local environment.

The first event was the route clean–up on November 27 and 28 between Moshoeshoe and Marthinus streets, where the bank partnered with the CoJ and the Soweto Marathon NPC.

The teams were deployed to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming environment ahead of race day.

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This event was followed by a donation to the African Academy Soweto Tennis Trust, where 30 laptops with chargers were donated for their Global Youth Leadership Programme. This donation underscores the bank’s commitment to youth empowerment and education.

The group chief executive for transformation and sustainability at the African Bank, Edna Montse, said the Soweto Marathon is an opportunity to support SMMEs through corporate social responsibility and sustainable initiatives, empowering them to thrive while driving social impact.

“The African Bank views the Soweto Marathon as more than just a race. It is a platform for transformation and empowerment, where resilience meets audacity.

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“Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen brand visibility, deepen stakeholder relationships and expand market reach.

“A vast majority of our customers live in townships, such as Soweto; we must give back to the community that not only birthed us but continues to sustain us,” said African Bank’s chief marketing officer, Kabelo Khumalo.

To support township economic growth, the team was served lunch at a local restaurant.