By: Khumo Makame
The inaugural Diamonds and Dorings Kimberley Big Hole Marathon, held on 21 November 2025 in the historic city of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, delivered a vibrant and memorable showcase, attracting more than 3,000 runners across its 42.2km, 21km, 10km and 5km races.
The race started at 5am making it possible for the shorter-distance runners to have crossed the finish line by 06:33.
Leading athletes of the 42km event soon followed with the top contenders arriving moments apart.
In the men’s 42km race, Bennet Seloyi of South Africa claimed victory in an impressive 2:13:22, followed by fellow South African Stephen Mokoka in 2:15:31. Namibia’s Daniel Paulus secured third place in 2:16:50.
The women’s 42km race was equally competitive, with Kenya’s Fridah Ndinda taking top honours in 2:39:45. Lesotho’s Neheng Melida Khatala followed closely in 2:40:12, while Ethiopia’s Siftolina Daba Chemeda secured third in 2:40:43.
Both the men’s and women’s champions, aged 25, each earned R200 000 in prize money, while the runners-up received R70 000 and the third-place finishers took home R30 000, marking a significant reward for the top athletes in Kimberley’s marathon debut.
A standout moment came from the women’s 42.2km race winner, 24-year-old Freda Linda from Nairobi, Kenya, who shared her gratitude and pride: “The win of today means a lot to me, and I thank God for this achievement. I thank Kimberley for this event; it’s going to encourage a lot of runners going forward.”
Local athletes echoed the positive sentiment. George Oosthuizen of Kimberley Road Runners, who completed the 21km race, applauded the organisers: “It was an excellent race—well organised, with enough water on the road. I would like to congratulate the Kimberley Marathon for this excellent showcase.”
For Thabo Mothibi, 50, communications manager at Sol Plaatje Municipality, the 21km event was both a challenge and a motivation. Despite missing his sub-three-hour target, he remained optimistic: “This is the biggest inaugural race in the city’s history. The 42km comes with a lot of training, so it means I will have to go back to my training.”
Former MEC for Health and current ANC Provincial Head of Elections, Maruping Lekwene, also tackled the 21km, highlighting its broader value: “The inaugural race is to put the city on the map and lure people to the city. I’m very positive it will grow in leaps and bounds.”
With such an inspiring debut, Kimberley is poised to become a premier destination on South Africa’s running calendar.
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