MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, 23 July 2026
KZNA SUPPORTS THE COMRADES MARATHON AND REQUESTS URGENT INDEPENDENT MEDIATION
KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) recognises the Comrades Marathon as an iconic KwaZulu-Natal and South African sporting institution. KZNA supports the successful staging of the historic 100th running in 2027 and has no desire to diminish the event, its organisers, volunteers, athletes, sponsors or host cities.
The current dispute concerns governance and the future relationship between the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), KZNA and Athletics South Africa (ASA). In particular, the parties must resolve whether and how the race will operate as an officially recognised athletics event using federation licences, competition rules, technical officials, results systems, records, rankings, qualifying pathways and related athlete protections.
KZNA acknowledges that the legal ability to organise a public road event and the separate question of official recognition within the athletics federation system are not identical. KZNA will therefore place its constitutional, contractual and regulatory position before an independent mediator and, where necessary, the appropriate legal forum.
KZNA has requested the Honourable MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal and the President of the KZN Sports Confederation to facilitate urgent mediation involving CMA, KZNA and ASA. KZNA is willing to participate without preconditions and to negotiate a framework that protects CMA’s operational independence while defining the legitimate functions required for official athletics recognition.
KZNA will not conduct personal disputes through the media or social media. The separate internal process involving the KZNA President must be allowed to proceed independently and will not be conflated with the institutional issues between KZNA, CMA and ASA.
Until mediation has been attempted, KZNA will confine its public communication to verified facts, correction of material inaccuracies and protection of the interests of athletes, clubs and the sport. KZNA invites all parties to adopt the same disciplined approach.
Issued by:
KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA)
Media Enquiries:
Mr. Khura Buthelezi (Acting President)
Contact Number: +27 64 545 2774
