Over 24,000 runners had gathered, brimming with excitement for the Cape Town Marathon, but nature had other plans. As fierce overnight winds swept through the city and continued into the early morning, the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was abruptly called off in the wake of safety concerns. The cancellation left athletes stunned. Some were already on the course, while others were still en route, when the shocking news hit their inboxes.

Severe overnight winds wreaked havoc in Cape Town, forcing organizers to call off the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon at the very last minute. The winds broke through the Green Point, shredded the tents and ripped the brand off the fences, and toppled the scaffolding.

The chaos triggered an emergency meeting between race organizers and the Joint Operations Committee, a task force including Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management, Safety and Security teams, medical services, and SAPS. After the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Clark Gardner, said, “The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is devastated at the cancellation of our very special event. We have worked for months on planning for all scenarios and conditions, but ultimately, a bigger force had the final say, and we are so sorry for the situation. We wish to thank our participants, sponsors, and stakeholders for their ongoing support and understanding.”

Addressing the media on behalf of the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) following the cancellation, Colonel Christo Engelbrecht of the SAPS explained, “The route is unsafe, as the wind is constantly gusting in Woodstock, and the infrastructure at the start and finish venue has been compromised. It’s unsafe for runners and pedestrians in that whole area, and that’s why the race has had to be cancelled. It was a collective decision made by the whole team in the Joint Operations Committee.”

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis shared the organisers’ disappointment, acknowledging the tough call. He commended the team for prioritising runner safety after strong winds toppled parts of the race setup. However, despite these efforts, the fans just have one question: why was the event managed so poorly?

Fans call out the administration for the poor Sanlam Cape Town Marathon management

One of the fans questioned the organizers’ preparedness despite the severe weather conditions. “#CapeTownMarathon weather really stop the marathon? If that is the case, the organizers don’t check weather forecasts prior? I sympathize with the runners, particularly those who designated this event as a qualifier & a lead-up to next year’s Comrade marathon.”

Another frustrated fan questioned the level of management, highlighting that previous events had faced even harsher winds. “f—-g USELESS COCT – seriously? what level of incompetence to cock this upp – they cant even put up a stable start/finish rig? The wind is WAY less than previous Cycle tours which have gone ahead.”

Adding to the criticism, one fan blamed the organizers for the chaos, suggesting financial motives behind the late cancellation. “Organisers ought to have known but then again it would been bad for business if they had issued the warning on Monday or earlier in the week. Imagine the money and time wasted by runners.” It must be noted that the 2025 elite field featured eight Platinum Label and ten Gold Label athletes, with the event in its final year of evaluation to become Africa’s first World Marathon Major by 2026.

Despite the cancellation, some athletes chose to run anyway, demonstrating sheer athletic spirit. “So what will happen to the roads since some runs are deciding to run anyway?” And finally, one fan praised the tough call, saying, “Give them their status for taking a good call.”’

With the cancellation of the marathon, the athletes will now have to return to their respective countries and perhaps come back next year.