Mark Leathers Archives - The Running Mann

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.

31st August 202631st August 2026

The Real Reason City to City was Cancelled: Greed & Incompetence

Executive Summary: AGN and CGA announced the cancellation of the 2026 City to City Marathon due to lack of sponsorship. However, Plus27 Events attempted to rescue the race by proposing to take on the full financial and operational risk, offering AGN and CGA either 20% of proceeds or a guaranteed R300,000 fee, plus their normal levies and broadcast rights.

Provincial officials delayed meetings, failed to respond timeously, arrived unprepared and eventually countered with an unrealistic demand for R600,000 plus 10% of sponsorship revenue on top of 20% of the proceeds. Two weeks later, AGN and CGA tried to accept Plus27’s original offer, but by this time it was too late to organise the 2026 race safely and professionally, leaving cancellation as the only viable outcome.

On 17 August, a joint statement from Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) and Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) announced that the City to City Ultra Marathon, Gauteng’s premier ultra, was cancelled for 2026. The official word from AGN and CGA was that this was due to a “lack of sponsorship”. However, I have received documentation that the real reason is the usual greed and incompetence from athletics administrators.

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.

30th July 202630th July 2026

Khonkhobe gets his prize money after illegal DQ (still waiting for promised apology from AGW)

Onnalenna Khonkhobe was illegally disqualified at the KHS Founders Half Marathon in Kimberly on 16 May and lost out on the first prize of R15,500. Khonkhobe had forgotten his ASA license number at home and therefore bought and ran in a temporary license. This is perfectly legal – in fact this is why temporary licenses were originally created and is explicitly allowed in the ASA rulebook.

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.

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.

24th May 202624th May 2026

Khonkhobe Incorrectly Disqualified by AGW Referee: AGW refuse to reinstate him as race winner despite admitting mistake

These days it seems that provincial athletics unions are trying to outdo each other in idiocy. Athletics Griqualand West (AGW) take the early lead for Mampara of the Month Award by incorrectly disqualifying KHS Founders Half Marathon winner Onnalenna Khonkhobe, admitting that their senior race referee does not know the rules but refusing to rectify the situation and reinstate him as the race winner.

Onnalenna Khonkhobe is hot property in running circles. He is a rare and unique talent and has a personality that writes its own headlines. Most races would fight to have his winning smile on their start line and would relish the PR possibilities when Khonkhobe crosses their finish line in first position.

Onnalenna Khonkhobe wins the 2024 edition of the Two Oceans ultra marathon (photo Two Oceans Marathon).

PR possibilities are few and far between in Kimberley, one of the smallest running communities in South Africa. Just 1% of the Comrades field (fewer than 200 entrants) hail from the Northern Cape. But on 16 May 2026, there was Onnalenna Khonkhobe at the start line of the little-known KHS Founders Half Marathon. Just over an hour later, Khonkhobe arrived at the school fields for a comfortable 1:04:13 victory. And yet if you look at the official results you’ll see that the ‘winner’ came in well over a minute later – Ambitious Masihleho in 1:05:37.

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.

20th April 202520th April 2025

Two Oceans goes the legal route (Cavanagh’s last stand)

Doing what I do and writing what I write about, I receive sporadic legal letters. Fortunately, I have a fantastic attorney in Mark Leathers who dispatches the attempted ‘shake downs’ with the disdain that they deserve.

I connected with Mark during the Comrades crisis following the 2024 event when he offered his services to me on a pro bono basis in the fight against the attempted capture of the Comrades Marathon. He was elected to the CMA Board at the November 2024 AGM and his fellow Board members subsequently elected him their Vice Chairperson. Having Mark in my corner lets me sleep peacefully at night.

7th March 202510th March 2025

Staggered Starts (Comrades introduces the Two Pot System)

Just when South African runners thought it was safe to go back onto the internet after Cape Town Marathon’s new race date announcement, the Comrades Marathon decided it was time to get their share of the social media limelight with the announcement of staggered starts for the first time in the race’s 104-year-old history.