LOBAMBA – South African runners have dominated the Imbube Marathon held today Saturday, October 17, 2026, leaving the home favourites in their wake at Eswatini’s premier road race.
Siphamandla Nkosi led the charge in the men’s 42km, stopping the clock at exactly 2:30:00 to claim the E40 000 winner’s cheque. The South African was no stranger to the top step – he first lifted the title in 2023 when the race returned after a three-year COVID-19 break, sat out 2024 and 2025 and bounced straight back this year.
Nkosi said he kept it simple, pushing hard through the first 21km, then nurse the legs home in the heat.
Meanwhile, Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force’s Ntokozo Nkonyane finished second and became the first Liswati across the line. Another South African, Derrick Masango from KwaZulu-Natal, completed the podium in third.
In the women’s marathon, Kenya’s Rosani Kaboino made it back-to-back titles, clocking 3:11:41. Nonhlanhla Fortein while Royal Eswatini Sugar’s Nelisiwe Magagongo improved on last year’s fourth place to grab bronze. Magagongo also collected an extra E40 000 as the first LiSwati woman home.
In addition, South Africa completed the clean sweep in the half-marathon. Abednigo Mashaba, the 2024 champion, stormed to victory in the men’s 21km in 1:09:14, toppling Umbutfo’s Ncamiso Hlatjwako. In the women’s race, Nomvula Sithole – a podium finisher in last year’s full marathon – dethroned two-time half-marathon queen Thobine Ngwenyama. Sanelisiwe Mphaphu finished three minutes adrift in second, with Ngwenyama hanging on for bronze.
Close to 10 000 runner turned out, with more than 2 500 runners on the course. South Africa and Mozambique filled most of the field of international runners, while athletes from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, the United States, Japan, China and Singapore also lined up.
