The Soweto Marathon Trust extends its apologies for T-shirt shortage

Despite having paid the full fee for the weekend event, thousands of runners were left without the commemorative gear.

Frustrated participants expressed their dissatisfaction, urging the organizers to fulfil their commitment by providing overdue T-shirts.

Spokesperson of the Soweto Marathon Trust Thokozani Mazibuko acknowledged and took full responsibility for the regrettable incident that angered participants.

Mazibuko explained that the Trust faced a shortage of T-shirts and ran out of time for manufacturing.

He assured the affected runners that the Trust was committed to making amends by personally delivering the overdue T-shirts to the residents of each affected participant.

“We owe the success of the event to the participants, despite facing numerous challenges that we’re confronting head-on. We won’t shy away from these issues and are actively working to resolve them in collaboration with the athletics community. The specific challenge lies with our supplier, leading to a shortage of T-shirts. We are diligently crafting a plan to address this issue, and we’ve been transparent with the runners about the situation. The primary concern at the moment is addressing the shortage of T-shirts,” explained Mazibuko.

Mazibuko pointed out that this isn’t the Trust’s first encounter with such a saga: a similar incident unfolded a few years ago.

Emphasizing a consistent approach, Mazibuko disclosed that they intend to tackle the current situation much like they did in the past, seeking a resolution.

“We’re actively developing a strategy to tackle the issue at hand. This isn’t our first encounter with such challenges, and we’ve consistently upheld our commitments in the past. This time is no exception: we remain dedicated to honouring our promises. We extend our sincere apologies to the athletes, taking full responsibility for the situation. We are committed to rectifying the issue and fulfilling our pledges. We won’t shy away from our responsibilities. In the end, it’s the People’s Race, and the people’s well-being is our top priority,” concluded Mazibuko.