After a series of legal letters and communiques from a diverse group of concerned Comrades stakeholders (including former winners, CMA Board members and Comrades legends), we are pleased to report two major developments:
1. The interim CMA Board has officially withdrawn its opposition to the High Court case due to be heard on 23 October. The case is a result of the urgent High Court interdict that allowed non-KZN residents to speak and vote at the Special General Meeting (SGM) in August after KZNA issued a ‘locals only’ edict for the first time in the CMA’s 43 year history. This is expected to save Comrades over R1 million.
Furthermore, the interim CMA Board has also filed a ‘notice to abide’. Essentially this means that they will accept whatever the court finds and have waived their rights to later change their mind / appeal against whatever the court decides in the matter.
2. The interim CMA Board has agreed to engage with a small working group consisting of prominent CMA members: Nick Bester, Barry Holland, Gift Kelehe, Mark Leathers, Brenda Marolen, Norrie Williamson and Cheryl Winn. These seven will ensure a smooth transition to the November CMA AGM, with a specific focus that:
- the rights of runners, volunteers and stakeholders are respected,
- the CMA constitution is adhered to,
- the CMA is in the best possible position for the future of Comrades and for whoever is elected to the Board at the November AGM.
A short CV of the seven working group members is provided below:
Nick Bester – 1991 men’s winner; 9 gold medals from his 15 finishes; 4 times IronMan winner; Manager of Nedbank Running Club representing 3000 athletes from Comrades winners to recreational runners.
Barry Holland – 49 Comrades medals (joint record holder); Founder of Dolphin Coast Striders; Race organiser of a number of successful marathons.
Gift Kelehe – 2015 men’s winner; 7 gold medals from his 14 finishes; constant and persistent advocate for runners’ rights.
Mark Leathers – 2024 Comrades novice; respected attorney who has represented CMA members pro bono and successfully filed the urgent High Court interdict to allow all CMA members to attend and vote at the SGM.
Brenda Marolen – Passionate athlete representing the needs to the recreational runner; 2024 Race Organising Committee member; Winners Circle Portfolio convenor; Former Chairperson of Manoni AC; Founder of Urithi AC development club; Lovingly known as ‘Chief Seconder’; One of the very few CMA members who has consistently travelled from Gauteng to take part in CMA meetings; 3 times Comrades starter still looking for her first medal.
Norrie Williamson – passionate lifetime servant to athletics; 20 time Comrades finisher; coach; world renowned technical official (76 different countries); founding president of South African triathlon; national athlete for Great Britain (1993-2000); Multiple ultra distance event winner
Cheryl Winn – 1982 women’s winner; 6 times top five finisher; CMA Chairperson (2017 – 2021); lifetime servant to Comrades and South African road running in general. From club to national level.
Should members of the media wish to interview any of the above please contact therunningman@gmail.com for contact information.
The working group was founded on the following principles and desires:
As Comrades runners, supporters and volunteers we:
- Support the democratic right of all Comrades runners and volunteers to belong to and participate in the CMA regardless of where they live.
- Support independent and transparent investigations into the serious and seemingly well-substantiated allegations of corruption, mismanagement, sabotage and incompetence from certain members of the Board and staff.
We call upon the interim CMA Board:
- To honour the constitution of the CMA.
- To honour the democratic decisions and resolutions voted for by CMA members at the August Special General Meeting (SGM).
- [Completed] Withdraw opposition to the High Court case due to be heard on 23 October that is set to cost Comrades over R1 million.
- Recognise that the interim Board is largely unelected and, as such, to act as a caretaker and not to make any major decisions that would negatively impact the future Board.
- Not to marginalise and vilify CMA members who raise legitimate concerns.
- Actively and continuously communicate and canvas opinion from all current CMA members.
- Ensure a smooth and scandal free transition to the AGM in November where all CMA members will democratically elect a legitimate Board.
Prominent Comrades athletes in support of the above include:
The following former winners and gold medallists: Bruce Fordyce, Alan Robb, Cheryl Winn, Gift Kelehe, Shaun Meiklejohn, Frances van Blerk, Nick Bester, Ann Ashworth, Tete Dijana, Edward Mothibi, Piet Wiersma, Claude Moshiywa, Belinda Waghorn, Leon Swanepoel, Charl Mattheus and Dominika Stelmach.
The following legends with 40+ (men) and 30+ (women) finishes: Barry Holland, Louis Massyn, Vic Boston, Dave Rogers, Wietse van der Westhuizen, Riël Hugo, Colin Goosen, Kleintjie van Schalkwyk, Toni Hesp, Val Watson, Sharon Bosch, Kim Pain and John Sneddon (UK race ambassador and international runner with the most finishes – 30).
[Note: Should other former winners, gold medallists and 40+ finisher men / 30+ finisher women wish to add their names to the above lists to show support, please contact therunningmann@gmail.com.]
Quotes
Barry Holland, “I’m very excited to be part of this well balanced group and get involved to ensure the longevity of this great race.”
Brenda Marolen, “What we do today is not for us, but for future generations – let’s protect and preserve the race.”
Cheryl Winn, “My personal and passionate motivation in participating in this group is to ensure that CMA is taken back to its core values of honesty, integrity, transparency, accountability, endurance and UNITY in diversity. I am a staunch believer that Comrades Marathon does not belong to the CMA Board, nor to KZNA but to the people who RUN it – past, present and future.”
Nick Bester, “My involvement, personal time, expertise and resources to be part of this working group and initiative is purely based on my passion for the race and making sure that the Comrades marathon will exist for another 100 years for the benefit of future aspirant athletes and the boosting of the SA and KZN economy with the influx of visitors from abroad and from other provinces. The Comrades is part of South African sporting history and has to live on!”
Norrie Williamson, “I am totally passionate about both Comrades and Two Oceans and want to see them move into the future in line with international, professional events such that the runners will always experience the ethics, standards and integrity intended by Vic Clapham in 1921.”
Rory Steyn (Comrades Green #42743; former bodyguard to Nelson Mandela) , “As a Comrades Green Number holder, I am passionate about the values, history and legacy of ‘The Ultimate Human Race’. Comrades is too important not to fight for.”
Header photo: Courtesy Comrades Marathon Association
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Common sense prevails
I’ve not made it to 40 I’ve only done 30 😁 I’m the UK Ambassador and I fully support the working group in their efforts to save Comrades for future generations
To all the people mentioned in the above press release, thank you for your time and efforts in bringing the Comrades back on track. I appreciate what you are doing.
And to Stuart, thank you for your persistence in finding the truth. Without visibility into what is going on, the change that is happening would never have been possible. Thank you, thank you!
As a 20 time comrades finisher and double green number holder I was saddened to see the accusations and counter accusations which could have led to the quality of the race degenerating with time
Wishing the highly esteemed members of the new committee well and would also like to share a few ideas with them
This is too valuable an event and has to be looked after with passion
It is really heartening to see that common sense is finally reigning here, and the interim committee has realised the important job it has to do to start returning this event to its former glory.
All thanks to you, and your great investigative journalism as to the affairs of former committee members.
Without you, non of this would have happened. Running Mann, you are a true game changer, and the running community in South Africa owes you a big cheer of appreciation.
Balance restored to the universe. Thank you Stuart. And thank you to every esteemed person ready and willing to fight for this beautiful race.
There are two major concerns that should be carefully addressed by all concerned:
1) CMA is an independent entity and should be regarded as a business run by its staff overseen by a non-executive Board.
2) That the Technical Support from the Athletics Federation of Athletics South Africa (ASA) is guaranteed and delivered by its member KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) and that particular oversight of Technical and Disciplinary matters are properly and openly addressed.