About the race
The African Bank Soweto Marathon is a road race in Soweto, Johannesburg, nicknamed "The People's Race". The organiser describes it as the only race of its size run through a township, and its distances are a marathon, a 21 km half marathon and a 10 km run.
History
Wikipedia gives 1991 as the year the race was established. Winners over the years include Sintayehu Legese Yinesu, who took four titles between 2014 and 2018. The listed course records are 2:16:28 for men, set by Shadrack Kipchirchir in 2012, and 2:33:43 for women, set by Irvette van Zyl in 2018. The race was cancelled in 2013 and again in 2020 and 2021.
The course
The distances start at the Nasrec Expo Centre and finish at FNB Stadium. The organiser highlights a string of Soweto landmarks along the way: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Walter Sisulu Square, the Regina Mundi Catholic Church, the Credo Mutwa Cultural Village, Morris Isaacson High School and the June 16 Memorial Acre, Vilakazi Street and the Hector Pieterson Memorial.
The latest edition
The organiser's page shows the most recent edition on 29 November 2025, with the Johannesburg Expo Centre at Nasrec as the venue. Wikipedia lists a typical date in November. Check the organiser's site for the next entry window and race date.
Entry basics
The organiser's page offers online entry through "Enter Now" buttons and an expo page for race-week collection. Check the organiser for qualifying times, ballots and cut-off times.
Where to watch
Soweto's landmarks double as natural gathering places. The organiser's list of sites, from Vilakazi Street to the Hector Pieterson Memorial, shows where the route passes areas of heavy foot traffic, and the finish at FNB Stadium gives supporters a single place to wait for runners.
Weather
Wikipedia describes Johannesburg as having a subtropical highland climate, with summer months from October to April marked by hot days and afternoon thundershowers, and regular daily thunderstorms from November to March. A November race therefore falls at the start of the rainy summer season, though weather on the day can vary.
SourcesSoweto Marathon home · Wikipedia: Soweto Marathon · Wikipedia: Johannesburg (climate)