KZNA Archives - The Running Mann

3rd August 20263rd August 2026

Comrades Gains Freedom: What Now?

On 1 August, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) members delivered a clear message that they were tired of the parasitic meddling and interference from KwaZulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) and Athletics South Africa (ASA).

Almost 80% of voting members chose a “CMA first” over an ASA / KZNA “accommodative” approach when voting on the first resolution and over two-thirds (67%) validated the decision at the November 2025 AGM to disaffiliate with KZNA.

There are a lot of “What does this mean?” messages as well as plenty of fearmongering and misinformation from certain quarters. There are many things that we cannot know for certain but there are several highly probable outcomes. Below is my detailed analysis and predictions as to how this will all play out.

31st July 202631st July 2026

CMA SGM: My vote is not a secret

This is how I voted ahead of the SGM on 1 August and why I believe it’s in the best interests of the Comrades Marathon to secede (for now anyway).

The benefit to Comrades is clear and obvious. Withdrawing comes with little or no drawbacks.

26th July 202626th July 2026

KZNA Blinks First in Comrades Chicken Run

KwaZulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) decided to play a game of chicken with the Comrades Marathon and, just before impact, KZNA have realized that they are riding a bicycle and Comrades is about to hit them with a bus.

A day after the final hearing on the urgent interdict that the Comrades Members Association (CMA) raised against KZNA’s “locals only” edict, KZNA finally appeared to acquiesce with a conciliatory press release headed “KZNA Supports the Comrades Marathon and Requests Urgent Independent Mediation”.

21st July 202621st July 2026

Why the Comrades Marathon will go ahead (with or without ASA)

There is a big difference between a rule and a law. A law is a formally enacted rule made by a government that is enforceable by the legal system. A rule is a guideline or requirement set by a particular organization, group, event or authority. A simple way to look at it is that all laws are rules, but not all rules are laws.

If there is ever a battle between a rule and a law, the law wins. Always.

20th July 202620th July 2026

🔍 KZNA Governance Under Steve Mkasi — Investigative Report

Report Compiled via Hermes Agent. Whilst every effort has been made to check facts, artificial intelligence sometimes makes errors that might not have been picked up in the report.

1. Executive Summary

Steve Mkasi was re-elected as President of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) on 14 June 2025 with 36 of 95 votes (37.9%) — a plurality in a 5-way split. 62% of voting clubs voted against him. His tenure has been marked by:

Three High Court defeats on a “locals only” CMA membership ruling
Approximately R500,000 in legal expenditure without council approval
An unpaid R386,000 costs order from 2015 against Phuma AC, the club he co-founded and controlled
Multiple threats to cancel the Comrades Marathon
A final High Court hearing scheduled for 22 July 2026 that could bankrupt KZNA
A physical altercation with an athlete on 13 July 2026
A documented pattern of workplace intimidation spanning two prior employers, including an assault charge, three misconduct charges, and a resignation ahead of a disciplinary hearing

13th July 202613th July 2026

KZNA Launches Fight Club: Steve Mkasi stalks and assaults athlete over Facebook comment

The only thing that surprises me these days about South African athletics officials is that they continue to surprise me. The below video appears to be KZNA president Steve Mkasi in a street fight with a young Ama Ravens AC athlete and organiser of The Best of the Best Marathon, Sphephelo Ndlovu, on Saturday evening.

10th July 202610th July 2026

Steve Mkasi keeps shooting blanks (KZNA’s latest threat to “Cancel Comrades”)

Earlier this week, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) received a cease-and-desist letter from KZNA courtesy of Deneys attorneys. This is not a cheap exercise and would cost KZNA an estimated R5,000 (excluding VAT). This is money that is being spent on frivolous legal ego trips rather than the athletes that KZNA are supposed to represent.

Steve Mkasi, president of KZNA, has already spent (most would say wasted) in the region of R500,000 on another seemingly fruitless legal venture when he tried to enact a “locals only” CMA Membership ruling as part of his apparent attempts to capture Comrades in 2024. Mkasi and KZNA have already been given three High Court smackdowns relating to this matter and the final hearing is due to be heard on 22 July and the ruling should follow shortly thereafter. It is quite likely that a costs order will be granted against KZNA which would possibly bankrupt them.

27th June 20251st July 2025

Another Day, Another Lawsuit

My articles seem to be producing a violent slow burn, delayed reaction amongst the miscreants in running administration. Toni Cavanagh took five months to respond to my article exposing her as a liar who inflated both her running pedigree and business experience. And now KZNA President Steve Mkasi, long accused of being ‘slow on the uptake’ by detractors, has decided that an article I wrote about him in November 2024 requires legal attention.

The article in question is “Time for Mkasi to “Pay Back the Money” to KZNA?” . Whilst the steel industry is suffering in South Africa, the irony industry is flourishing with Mkasi and his KZNA minions providing one of the richest veins to be mined.

1st April 20252nd April 2025

Breaking News: Comrades to take CTM’s October race date in 2026

[For anyone late to the party, this article was published on 1 April as an April Fool’s joke – but it does provide a satirical commentary on the South African road running scene.]

In a surprise move, Comrades have announced that they will be moving their 2026 race date to the October slot recently vacated by Cape Town Marathon (CTM). Comrades has traditionally been run on the second Sunday in June which would be three weeks after CTM’s new 23 May race date.

22nd February 202522nd February 2025

Lies, Damn Lies & KZN Athletics Media Statements

First off, let’s give some credit where it’s due. KwaZulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) Vice President Mandla Mngomezulu is a masterful spin doctor, perhaps even surpassing his boss Steve Mkasi (the Surgeon General of spin doctoring), with this latest press release. If Spin Dr. Mngomezulu had written a press release for Manchester United after they were beaten by Tottenham Hotspurs last weekend, you would swear that United had won the game and were still in the title race rather than hovering just above relegation.

Unfortunately, it appears that the KZNA executive take their runners for fools. Fortunately, no one is buying their nonsense. I doubt anyone outside of the undemocratic Republic of Mkasistan would give much credence to anything coming out of the KZNA offices these days. However, lest there be any doubt, I’ve taken the time to dissect the document.