Mulaudzi and Xaba dedicates Absa RUN YOUR CITY Cape Town 10K victories to all mothers on Mother’s Day
Cape Town, 11 May 2025 — Ten years ago, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY Series began with a single idea: to bring elite-level athletics into the heart of South Africa’s greatest cities while celebrating the spirit of mass participation. A decade later, it’s done more than just that—it has redrawn the map of African road running.
In its landmark 10th anniversary edition, the streets of Cape Town pulsed with the footsteps of 15,000 runners, turning the Mother City into a living, breathing celebration of movement, unity, and athletic brilliance.
On this special Mother’s Day Sunday, the 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K didn’t just mark another race on the calendar—it became a mirror reflecting how far the series, and African distance running, have come.
A Mother’s Day to remember
South African duo Kabelo Mulaudzi and Glenrose Xaba painted the perfect tribute to their mothers by storming to victory in dramatic style. Mulaudzi, known as Mr. Podium, finally got his moment of redemption. After narrowly missing a personal best in Gqeberha, he lit up Cape Town’s streets with a career-best 27:49. This wasn’t just a win; it was a declaration of arrival.
Kabelo Muluadzi by Mark Sampson
“I was scared seeing Kamehelo (Mofolo) coming for me,” Mulaudzi admitted. “But I told myself to push till the finish.” That push not only earned him gold but also R70,000 in prize and time incentive bonuses.
Xaba’s victory was equally poignant. After years of knocking on the door of success at this event, she finally smashed through it in a commanding 32:00, ending a nine-year drought for South African women in Cape Town.
“I’ve always been fourth, fifth, sixth—never on the podium,” she said. “To win, and on Mother’s Day, is very special.”
Glenrose Xaba by Mark Sampson
A stage for Champions, A city for All
The real magic of the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES lies in its duality. It is as much for Olympians and national record holders as it is for office workers, schoolchildren, and cancer survivors. It’s this unique collision of elite and everyday that has made the series a cultural phenomenon.
Absa Run My City Cape Town May 2025 by Mark Sampson
From Adriaan Wildschutt’s record breaking 27:28 win in Gqeberha to the anticipation of the upcoming Durban showdown in July, the series provides a rare and valuable platform for African athletes to race against the clock—and for South African runners to challenge some of the world’s best without leaving the continent.
The incentive structure tells you all you need to know about the ambition here: R200,000 for breaking 27 minutes for men, or 30:23 for women, and R50,000 for any South African who smashes a national record. These are numbers that change careers—and lives.
And they are attracting a who’s who of African distance royalty. From Lesotho’s Kamehelo Mofolo, who nearly broke his country’s record, to Kenya’s Jane Gati Chacha, who scorched Gqeberha in 31:45, the series has become a magnet for African excellence.
Even legends like Stephen Mokoka (40), Elroy Gelant (39) and Lebo Phalula (40) still defying time, keep coming back. Because this is more than a race. It’s a proving ground. Mokoka (28:06) finished third with Gelant (28:08) still recovering from smashing Gert Thys’s long-standing SA Marathon record set two weeks ago in a new time of 2:05.36 at the Hamburg Marathon. Phalula (32:50) is still defying all odds with her third place in the Women’s race.
Elite Men In Action by Mark Sampson
Changing the Face of South African Road Running
In a nation where distance running once struggled for the limelight, the RUN YOUR CITY SERIES has become a beacon.
“To see 15,000 people flooding Cape Town’s streets is inspiring,” said Michael Meyer, Managing Director of Stillwater Sports and the visionary behind the series. “We wanted to make world-class road running accessible, and we’ve done that.”
Michael Meyer Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
And it’s not just about the elites. The partnership with CANSA gives runners a chance to run with purpose. The Team Absa Walk Run on Strava has built a community beyond race day. And with over R1.6 million in total prize money across the five races, and the chance to win cars, the events are driving real engagement at all levels.
As Jabulile Nsibanyoni, Head of Sponsorships at Absa, put it: “Your stories have inspired us all. From elites to first-timers, everyone here is part of something bigger.”
Looking ahead
With three events still to come—Durban (July), Tshwane (August), and Johannesburg (September)—the 2025 series is just warming up. And with each race comes a new opportunity to rewrite records and reshape narratives.
In the broader picture, the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES has done what few events have managed: unify the continent’s best under one banner while empowering a grassroots movement of health, competition, and community.
Absa Run My City Cape Town May 2025 by Mark Sampson
In every sweaty finish line hug, in every child holding a parent’s hand across the line, in every breathless final sprint—there is proof that this is more than sport. It is South Africa’s love letter to the power of running.
RESULTS: 2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY CAPE TOWN 10K
ELITE MEN
1 Kabelo Muluadzi (RSA) 00:27:49, 2 Kamohelo Mofolo (Lesotho) 00:27:53, 3 Stephen Mokoka (RSA) 00:28:06, 4 Elroy Gelant (RSA) 00:28:08, 5 Rodgers Murei (Kenya) 00:28:10, 6 Chris Mhlanga (RSA) 00:28:17, 7 Bennett Seloyi (RSA) 00:28:19, 8 Bongelani Mkhwanazi (RSA) 00:28:21, 9 Nadeel Wildschutt (RSA) 00:28:24, 10 Linus Loitareng (Kenya) 00:28:26
ELITE WOMEN
1 Glenrose Xaba (RSA) 00:32:00, 2 Selam Gebre (Ethiopia) 00:32:13, 3 Lebo Phalula (RSA) 00:32:50, 4 Neheng Khatala (Lesotho) 00:32:55, 5 Monica Jeptarus (Kenya) 00:32:57, 6 Tayla Kavanagh (RSA) 00:33:01, 7 Karabo More (RSA) 00:33:29, 8 Cacisile Sosibo (RSA) 00:33:31, 9 Karabo Mailula (RSA) 00:33:36, 10 Olga Firsova (Australia) 00:33:47
2025 Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES – Elite Race Results So Far
| Date | City | Men’s Winner | Time | Women’s Winner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 13 | Gqeberha | Adriaan Wildschutt (RSA) | 27:28 | Jane Gati Chacha (KEN) | 31:45 |
| May 11 | Cape Town | Kabelo Mulaudzi (RSA) | 27:49 | Glenrose Xaba (RSA) | 32:00 |
| July 13 | Durban | Coming Up | – | Coming Up | – |
| August 24 | Tshwane | Coming Up | – | Coming Up | – |
| Sept 24 | Joburg | Coming Up | – | Coming Up | – |
For More Information:
- Website: www.runyourcityseries.com
- Instagram/Facebook: @CapeTown10k / @Durban10k / @Joburg10k / @Tshwane10k / @Gqeberha10k
- Hashtag: #RunYourCity #AbsaRunYourCity
Contact for Press: WhatsApp – 072 042 7613
Because when you lace up at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY SERIES, you’re not just running a race. You’re running with a continent behind you.
