Devastation as 'severe winds' see Sanlam Cape Town Marathon cancelled on day, but some still ran it ... unofficially

Over 24 000 runners from across the globe have been left in shock and dismay when the 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon - a 42.195km route around the city - was cancelled this morning due to "severe winds" overnight.

The beautiful spirit of Capetonians however still came to the fore this morning as supporters and spectators still came out in their hundreds to applaud runners on the Sea Point promenade who were in shock and disbelief, said Independent newspapers photographer, Armand Hough @thehumansnarrative.

Some gathered to sing the national anthem in a moving moment as some runners ran behind them on the promenade.

A runner, Jaryd Browne, also launched on social media a spontaneous route from Rock Pool to Suikerbossie and back, starting at 6:30am for the disappointed. Many other small races took place, unoffically.

Social media was abuzz as were the start lines with runners not understanding why the race was cancelled. But it seems, strong winds - aka the Cape Doctor - was responsible for the 11th hour cancellation with both the start and finish stands blown over for the night.

Organisers apologised, cancelling the event due to "severe winds overnight that carried on into the early hours of the morning". And Cape Town's mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis said despite the disappointment he was grateful that the organisers took a decision with runners' safety in mind.

"Cape Town is committed to hosting events of the highest global standards, and that includes sometimes managing difficult calls like this," said Hill-Lewis.

In a statement JP Smith mayoral committee member for safety and security said: "The Venue Operations Centre, in consultation with event organisers, made the difficult decision to call off the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon this morning.

"The decision was made with safety as the top priority.

"High winds caused significant damage to event infrastructure at the start, finish, and along several sections of the route, making conditions unsafe for runners, officials, and spectators.

"The City of Cape Town extends appreciation to the event organising team, volunteers, service providers and all those who dedicated countless hours to making this event possible.

"We would also like to extend commiseration to the thousands of runners who trained for months to be part of this iconic and historic race. We understand the immense effort, anticipation, and emotion that go into an event of this scale, and share in the collective disappointment felt across the running community.

"The City remains committed to support the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon’s Abbot Marathon Majors goal and welcoming runners back to our streets under safer and calmer conditions."

But others wanted to run. "We are from Cape Town, we are used to danger," said a disappointed runner Garlen Fredericks, who, like others, could not understand why they would cancel the race.

The 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon was to mark another milestone in South Africa’s premier road race.

"People stood in disbelief in front of the starting line, some singing struggle songs, others embracing each other. A lady in running gear drove past me crying over her steering wheel," said Hough who himself was also geared to run the race to raise money for Groote Schuur Hospital's move to its new space.

Fredericks, who has been running the marathon for 10 years, said he was ""deeply disappointed", saying it was like "getting a bride to church on time and then cancelling the wedding an hour later". "People want to run. This is shocking."

Others who had flown in to take part in the race were "devastated". Many had arrived at the start not realising it was cancelled.

Some runners however still decided to run their race.

Organisers, who had hoped to have the marathon included as one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (a series at the moment of seven renowned marathons atound the world - were also devastated. They had hoped the race would sit alongside the famous New York, London, Berlin, Chicago, Tokoyo, Boston and Sydney - ones.