Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has given a clear assurance that the 100th running of the Comrades Marathon will be held on 13 June 2027, with the full backing of national and provincial government. The announcement aims to calm uncertainty over the centenary event amid an ongoing dispute involving athletics federations.
Government steps in to protect centenary race
In a statement issued on Friday, the Minister said government would make sure the historic ultramarathon goes ahead irrespective of the disagreement between federations. Entries for the 2027 race are already open and, according to the statement, thousands of runners have committed to taking part and have begun preparing for the event.
“The 100th running of the Comrades Marathon must go ahead, and it will go ahead. Enter the race. Book your accommodation. Tell your family to come and stand on that road. This race has survived a world war and a pandemic. It is not going to be stopped by a disagreement between committees,”
The Minister underlined that state support for the mass-participation road event is non-negotiable. He said approvals relating to event categorisation and safety certification under the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, together with municipal, traffic, policing and emergency services arrangements, fall within the functions of the State and its authorised structures. Those arrangements, McKenzie said, are not dependent on the outcome of an affiliation dispute between federations.
What government says it will do
McKenzie has directed the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to engage provincial and municipal authorities to secure arrangements for the race. The statement named the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Msunduzi Local Municipality as key partners for planning.
- Date confirmed: 13 June 2027
- Centenary significance: 100th running since 1921
- Tradition: 2027 will also mark the 50th running of the traditional down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban (finish at Kings Park precinct)
- Government role: approvals, safety certification, municipal, traffic, policing and emergency services
The Comrades Marathon was first staged in 1921 and has taken place every year except during the war years and the two editions lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister framed the event as belonging to the runners, their families and the towns along the route rather than to any single federation or association.
Implications for runners and host communities
For thousands of runners who have already entered, the Minister’s declaration removes a layer of uncertainty and allows training, travel and accommodation plans to proceed with greater confidence. For host communities along the Pietermaritzburg-to-Durban corridor, the centenary race carries both economic and symbolic importance: decades of small businesses, hospitality providers and volunteer groups prepare around a single Sunday in June that helps shape local identity.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Race date | 13 June 2027 |
| First run | 1921 |
| Missed years | War years; two years during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| Route note | 50th traditional down route from Pietermaritzburg to Durban in 2027 |
McKenzie’s statement stressed that while federations may be in dispute, the logistical and regulatory responsibilities that enable the race are exercised by state organs and municipalities. The Department has been tasked to coordinate with provincial and local authorities to ensure categorisation and safety certifications are in place.
As preparations accelerate over the coming months, runners will be watching for further detail on start lists, wave allocations, safety protocols and road-use plans from the race organisers and from the municipal authorities charged with policing and traffic management. For now, the key message from the Department and the Minister is straightforward: the centenary Comrades Marathon is on the calendar, and the State will support its delivery.
