Rotary Volunteers Support the Inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town
“We live in an age where the values Mandela fought for – dignity, equality, and the right to be seen as fully human – are under pressure again. Democracy is fragile. Division is loud. Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom is not over. It continues. It needs everyone.”
Inspired by the enduring values and legacy of Nelson Mandela, the Nelson Mandela Foundation launched the inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon on Sunday, 18 October 2026, under the inspiring banner “Rise. Remember. Run.”
More than 31,000 runners of all abilities came together to participate in this landmark sporting event, celebrating the power of sport to unite people, communities, and nations.
The Rotary Club of Waterfront was proud to play its part, with ten club members volunteering as race marshals and the Waterfront Rotaract Club also contributing to the event while raising funds for its community projects.
More Than a Marathon: Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s Legacy
Organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the marathon forms part of the Mandela Legacy Sporting Series and reflects Madiba’s belief that sport can bring people together across social, cultural, and economic divides.
Built around the principles of dignity, equality, inclusion, and unity, the event aims to become more than a traditional road race. Its vision is to create a value-based running series that keeps Nelson Mandela’s ideals alive through sport and community participation.
The long-term ambition is to establish the Cape Town marathon among the world’s leading running events.
The inaugural event attracted runners participating in five different categories:
- Full Marathon (42.2km)
- Half Marathon (21.1km)
- 10km Run
- 5km Run
- Big Walk
Marathons were also taking place in Atlanta, Berlin, Nairobi, Paris, and The Hague, extending the spirit of the occasion beyond Cape Town.
Celebrating the Inaugural Marathon Champions
The inaugural 42km race produced outstanding performances in both the men’s and women’s categories.
South African runner Arthur Jantjies, representing Pan African Resources Club, stormed to victory in the men’s marathon with an impressive finishing time of 2:15:14, securing the inaugural men’s title.
In the women’s category, Bize Beyira Negasa claimed victory with a finishing time of 2:36:42.
Their achievements added to the excitement of a memorable first edition of the Nelson Mandela Marathon.
Rotary Club Waterfront Steps Up to Support the Event
Behind every successful sporting event is a dedicated team of volunteers working to ensure that participants and spectators have a positive experience.
Ten courageous members of Rotary Club Waterfront volunteered for early-morning marshalling duties, beginning at 4:00 am and continuing until 9:00 am.
Despite the chilly early-morning conditions, our members were ready to support the thousands of runners taking to the streets of Cape Town.
The Waterfront Rotaract Club also participated as race marshals, using the opportunity to raise much-needed funds for its community projects.
R15,000 Raised for Rotary Community Projects
According to project leader Dirk Hoffman, approximately 31,000 participants took part across the five race categories.
Although there were a few minor operational glitches, which are understandable for an inaugural event of this scale, the marathon was generally very well organised and received positive feedback from runners and Rotary volunteers.
Most importantly, the marshalling contribution by Rotary Club Waterfront raised R15,000 for the club’s community initiatives.
This is a wonderful example of how volunteering time and effort at major community events can translate into tangible support for projects that make a difference in people’s lives.
A special thank you goes to Dirk Hoffman for his excellent coordination and leadership in organising the club’s participation.
Looking Ahead: More Opportunities to Make a Difference
The inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon has laid a promising foundation for what we hope will become an annual event on Cape Town’s sporting calendar.
For Rotary Club Waterfront, the experience demonstrated the value of community involvement, teamwork, and collaboration.
We look forward to becoming even more involved in future editions of the marathon, creating further opportunities to raise funds and support the community projects that remain at the heart of Rotary’s work.
Rise. Remember. Run.
And, most importantly, continue making a difference.
Together, we can turn community spirit into meaningful action and help keep Nelson Mandela’s legacy alive through service.
