Jantjies wins the first Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town
The top three men finished within 20 seconds, and Ethiopia's Bize Beyira Negasa won the women's race by seven minutes.
In short: South Africa's Arthur Jantjies won the first Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town on 18 October 2026 in 2:15:14. Ethiopia's Bize Beyira Negasa won the women's race in 2:36:42.
Arthur Jantjies won the first Nelson Mandela Marathon in Cape Town on Sunday 18 October in 2:15:14, the official results show. It was a personal best, he told SNL24, and he pulled away from the chasing group at around 40km.
It was close behind him. Tsepo Ramashamole was second in 2:15:24 and Zimbabwe's Moses Tarakinyu, who has a best of 2:08:26 from the Berlin Marathon, third in 2:15:34. Simon Sibeko (2:15:59) and Siboniso Sikhakhane (2:16:11) completed the top five.
"My legs felt heavy, but I knew I needed to kick and get everything out of my legs," Jantjies told SNL24.
Ethiopia's Bize Beyira Negasa won the women's race in 2:36:42, more than seven minutes clear of Malineo Mahloko (2:43:53). Fortunate Chidzivo was third in 2:49:55.
More than 30,000 runners took part across the marathon, half marathon, 10km and 5km, including the Slave Route Challenge, Time Out reports. The event was organised by Golazo with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which receives the profits. Top 10 of both races.