South Africa’s marathon queen Gerda Steyn will step up to spearhead a star-studded field of 15 000 runners at Marks Park on Sunday, taking a powerful social stand at the Jozi Spar Women’s 10km Challenge.
While the ultra-marathon icon is best known for her record-shattering dominance at the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons, Steyn often puts in a strong showing in the Joburg race, and boasts proven sharpness over the short distance.
Running for Hollywood Athletics Club, she recently clinched a impressive runner-up finish at the Hollywoodbets Joburg 10km in a time of 35:51, demonstrating that she remains a potent force on Johannesburg’s high-altitude roads.
Defending Jozi Spar Women’s 10km Challenge champion Glenrose Xaba will attempt to make history on Sunday at Marks Park Sports Club in Emmerentia, where a win will secure a historic fourth Grand Prix title.
Beyond her competitive drive, Steyn will lead a solemn moment of silence at the start line in solidarity with Spar’s campaign against gender-based violence (GBV).
“Something must be done about the horrific levels of GBV in South Africa,” said Steyn. “Women should be able to go about their daily lives without fear, and if they want to run, they should be free to do so without wondering whether they will get home safely.”
Steyn’s presence adds huge star power to a race that doubles as the winner-takes-all finale for the 2026 Spar Grand Prix title.
Defending champion Glenrose Xaba arrives in Johannesburg in great form, as she showed last weekend when she won the Gqeberha Spar Women’s 10km Challenge in 31:17 – the second-fastest 10km of her career. A win on Sunday would secure Xaba a record-breaking fourth Grand Prix crown, breaking the deadlock with René Kalmer and Irvette van Zyl.
Cacisile Sosibo, current Grand Prix leader, will hoping to capture her first overall title on Sunday after a consistent season.
However, the title is far from guaranteed. Because only an athlete’s best four results out of five count toward the final standings, current series leader Cacisile Sosibo (99 points) holds the upper hand over Xaba (89 points).
Having missed the Durban leg due to international racing commitments, Xaba must push for a high-scoring victory to overhaul her Boxer Athletics teammate. Ethiopian contender Selam Gebre sits just behind in third with 86 points, keeping four athletes mathematically in contention for top-three honours.
The single-lap route taking runners through leafy Joburg suburbs like Emmarentia, Greenside, and Parkview features a mix of steady climbs and long, fast straights passing landmarks like the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens and Melville Koppies.
With Boxer runner Tayla Kavanagh opting out to race on the European circuit after winning the first two legs, Xaba, Sosibo, and Gebre will battle it out on the road, while Steyn’s headlining presence ensures a dramatic, meaningful conclusion to the national series.
The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) has welcomed the arrest of people suspected to have hijacked staff. The MEC for Social Development, Wendy Kaizer-Philander, said two weeks ago police recovered a vehicle stolen when DSD staff were hijacked, and two suspects were arrested. “The matter is before court, and a watching brief has been requested to monitor the progress of the case,” Kaizer-Philander said. The MEC thanked the police for their […]
