06 Jul Yanga Malusi blazes to victory at Eerste River 15km
By Adnaan Mohamed
Behind a curtain of grey, around 600 determined souls laced up their hopes and dreams and stepped onto the cold, wet asphalt of Eerste River on Saturday morning.
The 2025 Eerste River 15km race, held in the heart of Cape Town’s northern suburbs on a wintry Saturday morning, was less a jog in the park and more a dance with discomfort — a test of sinew, spirit, and stubborn willpower.
Starting promptly at 07:15 from Stratford Primary School, and with the overnight rain subsiding conveniently for around two hours, runners faced a course as flat and fast as a sprinter’s heartbeat, winding out and back like a track etched across a waterlogged canvas. But for these athletes, the weather wasn’t an obstacle — it was merely another opponent to outpace.
Emerging from this puddle-pocked battlefield with the finesse of a greyhound on rails was Yanga Malusi of TymeBank Langa, who torched the tarmac with a sizzling time of 47 minutes and 40 seconds. Malusi didn’t just run — he flew low, each stride a statement, his cadence slicing through the gloom like a knife through butter.
“I felt strong despite the cold,” said Malusi after the race, barely winded, “I knew I had something in the tank and used the flat sections to push harder. Luckily for all the runners, the rain stayed away.”
Just off Malusi’s heels was Asipho Matomane of RCS Gugulethu, clocking in at 49:15, with the determined precision of a diesel engine warming into rhythm. A mere eight seconds later, Steven George of Strand AC completed the podium in 49:23.
And just a heartbeat behind them, reminding the field that experience still counts in a race of legs and lungs, was 2017 Two Oceans 56km Ultra Marathon champion, Lungile Gongqa, who claimed fourth in 49:49 — and with it, top honours in the veterans category.
“The legs remember,” said Gongqa — who represented South Africa in the Marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympics — with a grin.
“It’s not always about speed — it’s about wisdom, pacing, and picking your moments.”
On the women’s side, it was Lauren Jonathan of Boxer AC who stamped her authority on the slick streets, breaking the tape in 58:26 — a time as polished and professional as her pacing. Jonathan kept her rhythm unbroken, her focus undisturbed by the chasers behind her.
Hot on her heels was Liz Verheyden of Nedbank, who dipped under the hour mark with a determined 59:59, followed closely by Khayelitsha’s Nomvuyisi Seti, who rounded off the women’s podium with a respectable 1:01:21.
Western Province Athletics (WPA) president Farouk Meyer commended both the runners and the organisers for rising to the occasion despite the grim conditions.
WPA President Farouk Meyer Pic: Instagram
“We are incredibly grateful to every athlete who braved the cold and wet weather to support this event,” said Meyer.
“Runners came from far and wide, and it speaks volumes about the camaraderie and passion in our running community. Supporting a proud club like Eerste River AC is not just about the race — it’s about uplifting communities through sport.”
The roads were wet. The air was cold. The course was fast. But the spirit? The spirit was on fire.
