The 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has been cancelled for safety reasons following severe weather conditions in the city.
According to the organisers, the decision to cancel the event was made at about 4:45 a.m. on Sunday. Participants were notified via WhatsApp messages, and announcements were made through social media, local radio stations, media partners, and key stakeholders.
Winds overnight reportedly caused extensive damage at the Green Point race venue, tearing marquee tents and ripping branding materials off fences and scaffolding. The situation prompted emergency meetings between the race organising team and the Joint Operations Committee (JOC), which included representatives from the City of Cape Town’s disaster risk management, safety and security departments, medical services, and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
About 24,000 runners were expected to start the race at 6:15 a.m., and many were already at or near the venue when the cancellation was announced.
Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, expressed regret over the decision, describing it as a difficult but necessary one.
“The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is devastated at the cancellation of our very special event. We have worked for months on planning for all scenarios and conditions, but ultimately, a bigger force had the final say. We are so sorry for the situation and wish to thank our participants, sponsors, and stakeholders for their ongoing support and understanding,” Gardner said.
Speaking on behalf of the JOC, Colonel Christo Engelbrecht of the SAPS explained that the route had become unsafe as strong winds continued to affect Woodstock and surrounding areas.
“It’s unsafe for runners and pedestrians in that whole area and that’s why the race has had to be cancelled. It was a collective decision made by the whole team in the JOC,” he said.
Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, also expressed sympathy for the organisers.
“Our heart goes out to the Sanlam Cape Town team. I know they are just devastated, but the safety of the runners, volunteers, and everyone working here comes first. They made the right call,” Stone said.
She added that the organisers remain optimistic about future events: “We were all looking forward to a fabulous day, but we will be back in May and we hope everybody will be here with us.”
