BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
NHLANGANO – The sporting industry in Eswatini continues to gain momentum as communities and municipalities embrace events that promote healthy living, unity and local development.
This was evident in Nhlangano on Saturday, August 22, 2026, when more than 1 300 runners descended on the southern town for its inaugural Half Marathon.
The streets of Nhlangano were filled with runners, supporters and sporting enthusiasts as local and international participants took on the challenge across the 21-kilometre, 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre categories.
The maiden race not only tested the endurance of athletes but also brought the community together in what became a landmark day for sport in Shiselweni.
The 21-kilometre main race produced the first-ever Nhlangano Half Marathon champions, with Ntokozo Nkonyane winning the men’s race and Thobile Ngwenyama claiming the women’s title.
The race was officially flagged off by Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima, setting hundreds of runners into motion as supporters lined the route to cheer them towards the finish line.
For Nhlangano, hosting the race was about more than competition. It was an opportunity to showcase the town, encourage healthy lifestyles and demonstrate how sport can contribute to community development.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Apollo Maphalala said municipalities have an important role to play in growing sport at local level.
“Sport brings people together and creates unity in our communities,” Maphalala said.
He said sporting events also provide platforms for communities and stakeholders to engage on town development while attracting visitors and creating opportunities for local businesses.
Maphalala, however, noted that the continued growth of sport requires investment in infrastructure.
He stressed the need for greater investment in sporting facilities, including the Football Association’s King Sobhuza II Stadium, so that athletes can have suitable spaces for training and competition.
Meanwhile, Nhlangano Town Council CEO and Town Clerk Babsy E. B. Mavuso described the turnout as a strong indication of the public’s appetite for sporting events.
“We are very grateful to Emaswati for coming out in their numbers to support this inaugural event,” Mavuso said.
She thanked the runners, spectators, sponsors and all stakeholders who played a role in making the first edition possible.
Mavuso said the council would use the lessons from the inaugural race to strengthen future editions.
“We have learnt a lot from this first event and we hope that next year we will come back bigger and better,” she said.
The strong turnout also gave the town council confidence that the race could become a regular feature on the national sporting calendar.
For the athletes who made history, the race highlighted the importance of regular competition in keeping runners motivated and improving their performance.
Men’s winner Ntokozo Nkonyane said regular races give athletes something to work towards and help maintain consistency in training.
He said monthly races also encourage healthy competition among runners while giving them an opportunity to assess their progress.
Women’s winner Thobile Ngwenyama was delighted to finish as the first female champion of the Nhlangano Half Marathon.
Ngwenyama said she was happy with her performance and grateful to have completed the race safely despite experiencing heavy legs during the demanding course.
The inaugural Nhlangano Half Marathon has consequently given Shiselweni a new sporting platform while demonstrating how athletics can bring communities together and contribute to local development.
With more than 1 300 runners participating in its first edition, Nhlangano has laid a strong foundation for a race that has the potential to grow into one of the country’s major annual road-running events.
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