Sports Desk Reporter
Montshi Matshabe and Esther Borura overcame a demanding course to take the top honours at the Fat Cats 10km Race.
The pair were competing in the event for the first time when they won the men’s and women’s races at Mall of Africa in Midrand on Sunday. Matshabe crossed the finish line in 31:03, while Kenyan runner Borura recorded 34:51.
For Matshabe, the result was another achievement in a productive year on the road. The 28-year-old, who runs for Tshono e Ntle Athletic Club in Potchefstroom, has already won three other 10km races in 2026.
However, the Midrand course disrupted his plan to break the 30-minute mark. He said the downhill opening was followed by hills that made it difficult to achieve his target, particularly given his recurring hamstring injury.
“I have a recurring hamstring injury, and I prefer to start hard so I can warm up quickly, but this route was something else,” Matshabe said.
“The hills set me back, and I got in after 31 minutes,” he added.
He plans to finish the year strongly before working towards better performances in full marathons next year.
Borura also had to adjust to the course but left Midrand satisfied with her performance. The 26-year-old said the victory was a fitting way to conclude her South African racing commitments for the year.
She has now won two races in the country, including the earlier Exxaro Race. Her next focus will be cross-country running back home in Kenya.
“It has been a good year for me in South Africa this year. This is the second race I’m winning after I won the Exxaro Race earlier,” Borura said.
Her coach, Benson Momanyi, brought five Kenyan runners to the competition. He said he intended to introduce more athletes from the country to South African races in the new year.
The team had underestimated the difficulty of the route, according to Momanyi, who said their preparation would need to take the course conditions into account next time.
“We are never short of talent in Kenya. As you can see, I brought five runners to this race, and Esther won. They all say they didn’t expect the course to be so tough. We will plan better next time,” he said.
Beyond the competition, the event drew interest from recreational runners and families, with activities catering for participants of different ages, including toddlers taking part in the Nappy Dash.
Race director Shamanga Ilunga said the demand for the shorter events was particularly encouraging. Both the Nappy Dash and the 5km race sold out before the main event, which he viewed as evidence that the family-focused format was attracting the intended audience.
The venue also allowed participants to turn race day into a broader family outing, with opportunities to enjoy breakfast, shopping and children’s activities at Mall of Africa.
“What impressed me the most is that the fun races, including the Nappy Dash and the 5km event, were the first to sell out. It shows that our aim of making this a family event for the entire day is working and people love it,” Ilunga said.
He added that the venue offered families space to run, walk and spend time together, with facilities for children to enjoy activities throughout the day.
The eighth edition of the Fat Cats event combined competitive road running with shorter races and family activities, bringing different groups of participants together at Waterfall Park.