Organizers announced Wednesday that the 2023 Soweto Marathon will take place on November 5 with new sponsorship, broadcasting and lower entry fees, saying they are targeting 50,000 participants.
African Bank took over as title sponsor for five years after Old Mutual pulled out a few years earlier.
Pay channel SuperSport, the Athletics South Africa (ASA) contracted broadcaster of all local athletics events, will broadcast the race, which offers the full marathon, half marathon and 10km.
Entry fees have been reduced to R380 from R550 for the marathon, R300 from R450 for 21.1km and R280 from R350 for 10km.
Last year, nearly 20,000 runners took part, making it the largest one-day mass participation in the country, although the event did not have corporate support.
The first prize will remain R250,000.
On the expected entry target of 50,000, race director Danny Blumberg said: “We’re ready for you. We’ve put on an event of over 40,000.”
Registration for The People’s Race will open at midnight Wednesday at sowetomarathon.com and the race will gather at FNB Stadium from November 2-4.
Stephen Canelli of the Soweto Marathon Trust said the borough has produced top runners over the years and he hoped the event would continue to develop talent.