Mint conditions make SPAR ladies race a huge success

Thousands of participants enjoyed the SPAR Women’s Challenge “after-party” at the Pollok Beach race village on Saturday. Photo

A sea of ladies clad in striking mint-green running shirts made for a spectacular sight on the Gqeberha beachfront at the weekend as the 2025 SPAR Women’s Challenge lived up to its billing as the city’s most beautiful road race.

Despite the official cap of 5 000 runners, joggers and walkers being reached weeks in advance, more than 1 500 late entrants also joined the human train departing Pollok Beach on Saturday.

Though there had been some concern the overnight breeze would pick up it proved to be short-lived as the 10km and 5km participants set off in near-perfect conditions.

The atmosphere was electric at the start line as the ladies danced along to thumping music and revelled in the antics of local funnyman Gino Fabbri.

The vibe only intensified once everyone had completed the respective runs, with emcees Mafa Bavuma, Kaycee Rossouw and artists Zain SA, Dani B and Onika Booi keeping the crowds baying for more.

This was aided by the anticipation ahead of the grand lucky draw prize of a Hyundai Exter. Ultimately it was Nomandla Lunguza, running for Kamesh SAPS, who held the keys to her brand-new vehicle.

SPAR Eastern Cape managing director Solly Englebrecht thanked every woman present for helping make the event successful.

“We’ve had a lot of fun on this beautiful day and you’ve made this very special for us,” he said.

For participants like Women’s Challenge novice Zimkhitha Siqiti the experience was exactly what the doctor ordered after giving birth to her third child three months ago.

“I took everything at my own pace, nobody rushed me and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

“I was running before I had kids so now that I have had my children I’m going back to it. This is the start of more to come.”

Three-time participant Ziyanda Skeyi had last run the 10km five years ago and had been determined to break the 50-minute barrier on her return.

That was until the fun factor intervened.

“I was enjoying myself so much I forgot all about that. Running along the beachfront on such a beautiful day was so refreshing,” Skeyi said.

Sharing the women’s excitement were representatives from Ubuntu Pathways and LifeLine SA, the two beneficiaries of this year’s race.

The former, which is based in Zwide township, supports orphans and vulnerable children through education, healthcare and household programmes.

It also works with partner organisations to counsel women in distress and provide safe spaces for victims of gender-based violence (GBV).

“This [Women’s Challenge] is one of the biggest events in the metro. It stands out because it focuses on our women who are so often pushed to the back,” Ubuntu deputy principal Gcobani Zonke said.

“The rape statistics in townships are terrible so it is logical that we need to be there. GBV occurs in various ways and SPAR knows that. We need to change the situation.”

LifeLine SA community development supervisor Tommy Mokgotla said events like the Women’s Challenge were crucial platforms for the organisation to get the message out that there was help available for victims of GBV.

He was thrilled with the turnout as more people in attendance meant SPAR EC could help other organisations fighting the scourge.

The non-profit runs SPAR’s End GBV helpline.

Another highlight was the inclusion of people living with disabilities in a 500m race.

The participating group comprised those cared for by the Association for the Physically Disabled NMB (APD NMB), Amputee Support Group, Bona uBuntu Programme for the visually-impaired and Cheshire Homes.

APD NMB executive director Cecilia Fourie said for SPAR to incorporate the 500m offering into the Women’s Challenge was “absolutely beautiful”.

“SPAR came along and said they would love to bring persons with disabilities on board. The timing was perfect,” she said.,” she said.

“Next year we can go even bigger and will make sure to bring more than 100 people.”

The Gqeberha leg of the national Grand Prix Series, run in conjunction with the Women’s Challenge, saw Boxer Athletics Club’s Glenrose Xaba registering her second consecutive win in the Friendly City.

She broke the tape in 31:57, followed by Hollywoodbets Athletics Club’s Tayla Kavanagh in 32:01 and Nedbank’s Diniya Abaraya in 32:04.