Sports
They Came, They Ran, They Conquered Bonkolo 2025!
The scenic hills and streets surrounding Bonkolo Dam came alive early this morning as hundreds of runners took part in the 2025 Bonkolo Marathon in Komani. The event saw fierce competition across the 42 km, 21 km, and 10 km races — with some of the Eastern Cape’s finest athletes delivering spectacular performances under perfect weather conditions.
42 km Champion: Gift Chigomararwa (Oxford Striders)
Gift Chigomararwa of the Oxford Striders claimed top honours in the 42 km marathon, finishing first overall out of 111 runners. The 35–39 category athlete clocked a remarkable time of 2:33:44, dominating his field and securing first place in both his category and gender division.
Chigomararwa maintained a consistent pace throughout the gruelling course, passing the second checkpoint at 1:15:59 and maintaining momentum all the way to the finish line at 08:07:15. His average pace was 3:38 per kilometre, a performance that set the tone for the rest of the field.
Top 5 – 42 km Race
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Gift Chigomararwa – Oxford Striders – 2:33:44
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Siphelele Macakati – Komani Runners Club – 2:40:43
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Luthando Hejana – Original Mambas Athletics Club – 2:47:54
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Patrick Makasi – Komani Runners Club – 2:49:32
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Masixole Mtshemla – Alice Road Runners – 2:55:56
21 km Winner: Malusi Yanga (Thymebank Langa)
In the half marathon (21 km) category, Malusi Yanga from Thymebank Langa delivered an exceptional run, finishing with a winning time of 1:09:49 — an impressive 3:18 min/km pace.
Yanga led from the start, fending off strong competition from Luyolo Ngcongolo of Powered-Up Runners, who finished just 17 seconds behind in 1:10:06.
Top 5 – 21 km Race
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Malusi Yanga – Thymebank Langa – 1:09:49
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Luyolo Ngcongolo – Powered-Up Runners – 1:10:06
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Anele Dlamini – Independent – 1:12:13
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Cephas Matorofa – Komani Runners Club – 1:17:26
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Nkululeko Lekhoehla – Komani Runners Club – 1:21:53
10 km Race: Likho Dyantyi Claims Sprint Victory
The 10 km race was a high-speed showdown, with Likho Dyantyi taking first place overall in a lightning-fast 32:39, averaging 3:15 per kilometre. Dyantyi edged out Fanavele Zukisani by just 12 seconds to secure the win in a competitive field of 268 runners.
Top 5 – 10 km Race
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Likho Dyantyi – Independent – 32:39
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Fanavele Zukisani – Independent – 32:52
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Xolile Ndabe – Boxer Athletics Club – 33:07
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Sivuyile Tyhulu – Independent – 33:18
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Sathekge Dicks – Independent – 33:58
A Celebration of Fitness and Community
The Bonkolo Marathon has become a signature event in Komani’s sporting calendar, attracting athletes from across the Eastern Cape and beyond. With participants representing clubs such as Komani Runners, Oxford Striders, and Thymebank Langa, the race once again showcased the region’s strong running culture and community spirit.
Local spectators lined the roads to cheer runners as they crossed the finish line near Bonkolo Dam, celebrating endurance, discipline, and determination.
Event Details
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Event: Bonkolo Marathon 2025
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Location: Komani, Eastern Cape
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Date: 8 November 2025
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Distances: 42 km | 21 km | 10 km
