The Running Mann

27th September 202627th September 2026

What happened to Allen Barnes the WPA Finance Officer bust for fraud?

Back in January 2020 there was the strange story about the Western Province Athletics Finance Officer, Allen Barnes, who disappeared: After leaving his home at 3:30am, he failed to arrive at the Stragglers Beachcomber race where he was due to be officiating. When his car was found abandoned at Cape Town International airport the next day, many suspected foul play.

Allen Barnes, the WPA Finance Officer who went missing in action in 2020.

However, quickly thereafter rumours surfaced that he had been stealing money from WPA and, knowing that the gambit was up, decided to flee to Gauteng instead of facing the consequences. This version gained more credence when it was revealed that instead of going to Strandfontein for the Stragglers race, he had instead diverted to Grandwest Casino, ostensibly to try and win back all money he had stolen.

24th September 202624th September 2026

Guilty on all Four Counts: Adios Steve Mkasi

KZNA disciplinary enquiry finds against Steve Mkasi (A summary of the charges, hearing process and findings).

KEY OUTCOME | Guilty on all four disciplinary counts

The disciplinary enquiry into former KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) president Steve Mkasi concluded with findings of guilty on all four charges brought against him. The independent disciplinary process, held on 15 and 16 September 2026, found that Mkasi’s conduct towards Ama Ravens athlete and Best of the Best Marathon organiser Sphephelo (Sphe) Ndlovu breached the KZNA Constitution and Code of Conduct and brought the federation into disrepute.

Before the findings were formally announced, Mkasi publicly announced this resignation at KZNA president with immediate effect on 17 September citing concerns around his “mental health”. However, it is common perception that Mkasi knew that he would be found guilty and faced removal from office. In this context, Mkasi’s resignation should be seen as a cowardly last ditch manoeuvre to avoid accountability and escape formal sanction for his despicable actions.

12th September 202612th September 2026

ASA’s Premier Athletics League: Commercial Lifeline or just another Cookie Jar?

There were several eyebrow raising revelations within the leaked June 2026 Athletics South Africa (ASA) “Acting CEO’s Report to Council”. One of these was that a new company, the Premier Athletics League (Pty) Ltd, was registered to be the “commercial arm that is solely responsible for exploiting ASA’s image rights, marketing rights as well as broadcasting rights for the benefit of the Association.”

11th September 202613th September 2026

Forbidden Fruit: Adam Lipschitz and the Garden of KZNA

There are very few South African men who’ve run under 2h10 for a marathon. This decade there have only been five. Only one of these men has also founded a successful running club that has over 600 active members. Only one of these men puts on three road running events a year thereby contributing to both the local running community and to his province’s income. That man is Adam Lipschitz.

Adam Lipschitz directly after the Boilermaker 15k in Utica, New York where he secured a PB of 43:14.

9th September 20269th September 2026

Steyn City Ultra Trail (dusting up my road shoes)

[Marathon #314 / Unique Marathon #190 / Ultra #87 / 11 July 2026]

With Comrades behind me and the very expensive mandatory gear I’d bought to run the Otter Trail in 2025 gathering dust in my cupboard, I gratefully accepted an invite to come and run the Steyn City Ultra Trail in July, opting for the longest possible distance of 53km (there are also 21km, 15km and 7.5km options).

It would be inappropriate for me to use the cliched saying that “it was time to dust off my trail shoes” because I don’t own any. More appropriate for me when running trail in the cold, dry highveld winter was that “it was time to dust up my road shoes”.

7th September 20267th September 2026

The Running Mann’s Guide to October 2026 Marathons

This article provides detailed information on all South Africa’s October 2026 marathons including race descriptions and recommendations. You can find the full 2026 marathon / ultra calendar here.

A summary of your choices is below:

5th September 20265th September 2026

Was CGA President fired by ABSA for Fraud?

Documentation has emerged that the Central Gauteng Athletics president, Karabo Mabilo Thobakgale, was debarred from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) by ABSA Bank on 14 November 2022 as she “Does not comply with personal qualities of honesty and integrity”.

The publicly available debarment record against Mabilo (whose married surname Thobakgale appears on record).

4th September 20264th September 2026

Men: Get Your Mitties Out (Saying “No” to Noceanism)

I get a lot of questions via email and direct message but this is one of the most interesting and deserved its own article:

“Dear Running Mann.

Thank you for your awesome blog. I know this is a weird question but I have been having this weird question, that may be a story for your blog. But if it is too trivial or insignificant for a reply or a blog I would understand.

I love to jog shirtless in Limpopo where I live. In my town, Mokopane, I think I am the only person in the afternoon after work to go out and jog under our lovely sun, especially during summer, shirtless, still have pants and shoes on, don’t worry.

2nd September 20262nd September 2026

Soweto Marathon Prize Money: Empty Promises & Empty Pockets

On 17 July Central Gauteng Athletics issued a statement indicating that Soweto Marathon prize winners could expect to receive partial payment of their prize money. The Daily Maverick reported that the source of the “limited funds” were from “the 2024 Soweto Marathon [that] are currently available and are being held by the Gauteng Sports Confederation (GSC).”

The CGA statement also stated, “Although the available funds are insufficient to settle the outstanding prize money in full, CGA has committed to facilitating the distribution of the available funds to affected athletes as soon as reasonably possible, while continuing its efforts to secure payment of the outstanding balance”

However, almost two months after that statement (and approaching a year after the race itself) no athlete has seen a cent of any prize money.

1st September 20261st September 2026

Mkhululi Jack is Back / BORA Bullies Blasted

Great news for the running community is that popular East London runner, Mkhululi Jack, has been fully exonerated in his disciplinary hearing appeal decision. On the other hand, Border Athletics (BORA) were severely chastised and came in for scathing criticism from Selby Thabethe who chaired the Disciplinary Committee on behalf of Athletics South Africa (ASA).

The nine page document, which is available below, finds fault with every aspect of BORA’s approach, states that they acted in “bad faith”, broke almost every procedural and governance principal, were “defective” in every argument and action, made a critical constitutional breach, lacked substantial fairness and inferred that they had applied the “no earphones” rules incorrectly and inconsistently when compared with every other athletics province.