The story behind Gijima Soweto

Our mission

Running as a shared act of community

Gijima Soweto exists to bring runners of every level onto the same roads, at the same time, for the same reason: to move together. From first-timers taking on the family fun run to seasoned athletes chasing a marathon finish, every distance on offer is designed to welcome someone in. Soweto's streets carry decades of history, and this event is one way of honouring that history by filling those streets with people in motion.

Why Soweto

A route through a place with a story

Soweto is more than a backdrop. It is one of South Africa's most storied communities, and an event held on its roads is an opportunity to celebrate that legacy while investing in the runners, volunteers and local organisations who call it home. Gijima Soweto is built around that relationship between the event and the community that hosts it.

Inclusive by design

Four distances mean there is a starting point for every runner, from a first 5KM to a full marathon.

Community first

The event is built in partnership with the people who live and run in Soweto every day, not just on race day.

Built to grow

The event aims to set a high bar for organisation, safety and runner experience, distance by distance.