SPAR KZN uplifts women in Sport 2025

SPAR KZN continues to proudly uplift women in sport in 2025 with their commitment to women’s athletics, schoolgirls’ hockey and netball in the province, celebrating incredible milestones,.

“We are referring to 2025 as our ‘big five’ year at SPAR KZN,” shared Menelisi Luthuli, Marketing Director for SPAR KZN. “The year is 2025 and we are applauding five years for our netball tournament, 15 years for our hockey challenge, and 35 years for our Durban Women’s race.”

Celebrations are in order. SPAR KZN applaud the milestones for their sports events this year. Pictured here are Brad Glasspoole (Race Director for SPAR KZN Women’s Challenge), Nozi Mkhize (SPAR KZN’s Advertising & Sponsorship Manager), and Les Galloway (SchoolGirlsSports Director for both the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey and Netball Challenges). Pic by Val Adamson

Celebrating 35, the renowned Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge is diarised for Sunday 22 June. The inaugural race that began in 1990 had a small field of 2,200 participants. With the start on the then-NMR Avenue, outside Kings Park Athletic Stadium, saw Colleen de Reuk historically breaking the tape on the athletic track in an impressive time of 34.16. Currently, Namibian Helalia Johannes holds the fastest 10km time, blitzing her way around the new fast, flat Durban route in 31.18 in 2019. 

Over the 34 years, the women’s race has enjoyed encouraging 369,406 participants to share their morning running around Durban’s scenic spots. The biggest field competing in 2015 had a field of 17,607. Moulding the event into a top tier triumph that everyone looks forward to, Race Director, Brad Glasspoole and his team works tirelessly to create a smooth experience from start to finish. Preparations are well underway to make the 35th race a memorable one. 

Tipping off the sporting year for SPAR KZN, the first of ten hockey tournaments takes place at Curro Hillcrest with the Highway Regional on Saturday 8 March. The tremendously successful SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge began in 2011, a vision of Tournament Director Les Galloway from SchoolGirlSport. 

Fifteen years later, the tournament has had 130 victorious teams hoist their trophies after their regionals. The tournament is split up into ten regionals with a Grand Final rounding off the annual challenge. 32 schools have participated in the Grand Finals with three schools being crowned the overall Grand Finals champions, St Anne’s College, St Mary’s D.S.G. and Durban Girls’ College. 

The newest addition to the KZN sporting stable, leading up to the 2023 Netball World Cup held in Cape Town, SPAR KZN and SchoolGirlSport created the only Fast 5’s tournament in the province for schoolgirls. In 2019 the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Fast 5’s Netball Challenge was launched. Beginning with only four tournaments, it quickly grew to seven after its well-received inception. Expanding to eight tournaments in the challenge’s fourth year, the Fast 5’s Challenge is looking forward to continuing growing in its fifth year, and beyond. 

Eighteen teams have conquered their opponents in the 25 different regionals held since 2019 with Hillcrest High School; Durban Girls’ College and Dundee High School earning themselves double victories and Shayamoya Area Secondary School and Kingsway High School earning triple titles. Having wrapped up the 2024 season, Tournament Director, Marguerite Wagner is hard at work creating a memorable fifth year.

Luthuli concludes, ‘We worked out that over the 35 years, SPAR KZN has directly interacted and encouraged being healthier with just under 600,000 people through these three events – everyone from athletes to referees, coaches and managers and spectators. A truly phenomenal figure!’

For more info on all the events, please visit www.spar.co.za or find out more on the individual social media channels. 

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Durban SPAR Women’s 5km Challenge - back in action!

Durban SPAR Women’s 5km Challenge

Beachfront: Saturday 3 September

Back in action. A sea of teal took to the streets and the promenade around the beachfront in Durban for the Durban SPAR Women’s 5km Challenge, and to various routes throughout South Africa for the SPAR Virtual Challenge on Saturday 3 September.

Thousands of women relished being able to join other like-minded participants in the annual SPAR Women’s event. For the past two years, SPAR hosted two very successful Virtual Challenges nationally. With the announcement of the Covid19 restrictions being lifted, SPAR KZN organised an In-Person event to celebrate being able to participate together again, with a fun 5km loop around the Suncoast precinct and beachfront.

Thousands of virtual runners also competed en-mass, or individually, with athletes from outlying areas like Uvongo, Hluhluwe, and Newcastle organising small running groups to tackle familiar routes in their areas.

As an incentive for the more serious runners taking part in the In-Person race, the top five runners each received SPAR vouchers for their fantastic times in the shorter distance. The top five were 1. Nwabisa Mjoli 17.27, 2. Lisha van Onselen 18.05, 3. Silindile Hlatshwayo 18.43, 4. Nokuthula Ntshangase 20.14, 5. Mbali Mashaba 21.03

With life returning to normal, SPAR KZN is looking forward to hosting its most beautiful race, the annual Durban SPAR Women’s 10/5km Challenge next year in winter.

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SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge - KZN Ambassadors Announced

SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge - Saturday 3 September

KZN Ambassadors Announced

Four phenomenal local KwaZulu-Natal women have been selected as the race ambassadors for this year’s SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge that takes place nationally on Saturday 3 September.

With the National race theme for this year’s challenge being I Rise, the four local women can all attest to their own personal uprisings, having overcome various challenges and determinedly made their way to the top of their games. 

The race ambassadors for the KZN leg of the 2022 SPAR KZN Women’s Virtual Challenge are former Protea’s Netball star, Baby Proteas coach and teacher, Precious Mthembu; life coach, radio, TV and film personality, Raeesa Mahomed; The Sharks and SA Rugby player and firefighting hero, Zinhle Ndawonde and actress; and comedian, Lisa Bobbert.

This year’s race theme is a celebration of how women of our nation have all mastered their challenges in this day and age. Using the hashtag, #IRise, the 2022 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge inspires all participants to become a part of a triumphant community that rises above their challenges, especially with this province's most recent trials and tribulations. 

Lisa Bobbert

No stranger to the spotlight, multi-award-winning actress and comedian Lisa Bobbert has overcome many hurdles in both her personal and professional life. Most recently, rising above the CoViD challenge that crippled South Africa’s live performance industry, Bobbert and her husband, Aaron McIlroy took the forced time out to re-create and re-envision themselves with their successful social media channel Welcome2Durban, and streaming their shows on online platforms. 

Raeesa Mahomed

Well-known life coach, radio, TV and film personality, Raeesa Mahomed claims her greatest life achievement is raising and empowering her two beautiful daughters. Having conquered breast cancer in 2013, she went on a journey of self-discovery which led her to being certified as a Master Life and Transformation Coach. She has helped dozens of people rise above their challenges, become the best version of themselves and create the life they want. 

Precious Mthembu

KZN Netball’s darling, Precious Mthembu life started out in Botha’s Hill and reaching her dreams, her life with Netball has taken her far and wide. She has been honoured with the 2021 KZN Sport Personality of the Year award, she has 97 National Netball Caps, is currently the U21 Baby SPAR Proteas Assistant Coach and the U19 SA Netball Head Coach. Her current role is inspiring youngsters in the Danville Park Girls’ High School’s classrooms where she teaches isiZulu and guides future netball stars – a passion of hers. 

Zinhle Ndawonde

Rising above the stereotyping of being a female rugby player in a rural community, Zinhle Ndawonde hasn’t let anything stop her from realising her dreams. While the passionate and determined young woman’s journey has not been easy, Ndawonde claims that rugby offered her so many life-changing opportunities along with a chance to see the world.  The combination of her tremendously physical career and passion demand a clean and healthy lifestyle which she embraces.

Taking to the roads on race day, the four ambassadors will be encouraging all and sundry to join them. They will be rising early to take to some of Durban’s most scenic routes where they hope to meet and greet members of the public participating in this fantastic event. 

“We are so honoured to have such incredible role models as our 2022 Ambassadors for our Virtual Challenge,” says Max Oliva, Managing Director of SPAR KZN. “The last two years have been incredibly challenging to our KwaZulu-Natal province, and everyone has been affected in some way by the upheavals we have experienced. To have positive voices who have risen above their own personal challenges, provides us with a vision and hope that we can all rise. We look forward to seeing our KZN SPAR Women’s Challenge family and friends – old and new taking part this year – and to the sense of community the race offers people across the country.”

To enter, visit www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za. Entries cost R120 and include a t-shirt, medal, face buff, drawstring bag and a My Virtual Challenge magazine. There are options to have the packs sent via the delivery service Pargo or delivered to participating SPAR stores.

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 CAPTION TO PHOTOS:

KZN Ambassadors _ Raeesa Mahomed, Zinhle Ndawonde, Lisa Bobbert and Precious Mthembu

The SPAR Women’s Challenge builds on the runaway success of their previous virtual challenges

The SPAR Women’s Challenge builds on the runaway success of their previous virtual challenges.

Celebrating its third year, the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge 2022 will return to the annual road-running calendar serving as a symbol of the country’s rise out of the ashes of the pandemic. 

The 2022 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge will build on the runaway success of last year’s race when entries were open nationwide, taking the most beautiful race to all corners of the country (and abroad). As a virtual event, there are no geographic boundaries to the race,  participants get to decide on their route, be it in the Berg, Bush or along the Beach. Participants can set their own pace, and choose whether to do it alone, with friends, family or as a community.

This year’s theme, captured through the hashtag, #IRise, is a celebration of how South African women conquer their challenges. The 2022 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge encourages all participants to harness their power, adopt the #IRise philosophy and become part of a collaborative community that collectively rises above their challenges. 

The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge was launched in 2020 as a homage to South African women’s resilience and strength amid the uncertainty and strife brought on by the CoViD-19 pandemic. Although the government has lifted the state of disaster, the pandemic remains in our midst, which prompted SPAR once again to take the beautiful road race into the virtual space.

“For the safety of our participants, based on the fluctuating CoViD-19 regulations and the unprecedented times we find ourselves in, we have gone virtual again this year,” said Charlene Subbarayan, SPAR Group Sponsorship & Events Manager. “However, that does not mean we have compromised on the fun. Get your friends together, work out a route in your local community and share all the fun by tagging us in your pictures #IRise #YourRaceYourPace.”

Online entries are now open for the 2022 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge. SPAR invites women in KwaZulu Natal, across the country and beyond to join in on Saturday 3 September, anytime between 06h00 and 18h00 (subject to government lockdown regulations). Participants can run, jog, or walk their virtual challenge at their own pace anywhere in South Africa.

The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge is more than a race, it is a celebration of female camaraderie and is a social compact aimed at improving the lives of our fellow humans. Each year the Virtual Challenge adopts a charitable cause that addresses a broader societal issue.

By entering this year’s SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge, participants will make a meaningful contribution to the lives of young girls. For every entry, a pack of sanitary pads will be donated to help keep a girl in school through the SPAR Petals Project. The Project advocates for a shame-free education for all young women, and through their contributions, participants will help these girls rise above their challenges. 

“The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge has grown beyond the boundaries of racecourses or geographical areas. It is a movement that celebrates the resilience of women across the breadth and width of the country,” said Mike Prentice, SPAR Group Marketing Executive. “The sight of women from different walks of life taking to the streets and trails around South Africa has filled us with immense pride. SPAR looks forward to the thousands of posts to light up social media platforms.” 

The Virtual Challenge also boasts a dedicated group of brand ambassadors who help spread the #IRise message and promote the causes that we support. The list includes familiar fan favourites and some new ambassadors eager to get SA excited about the challenge. 

Entry to the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge is R120, and as part of the entry fee, every participant will receive a virtual challenge pack. The pack includes an official virtual challenge t-shirt, access to the My Virtual Challenge digital magazine, a face buff and a medal.

This year there are even more ways to join in the fun online. Participants can visit the official race website, www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za to generate their race number and finish line certificate – perfect for pre and post-race selfies! Use #IRise and #SPARVirtualChallenge when posting to join the challenge community online!

For more information and to find out how to enter, visit www.sparvirtualchallenge.co.za. Entries are limited to 60 000 participants – enter now to avoid disappointment. 

The SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge and Theme:

Difficulty calls us to rise, and in that rising, we learn what we are capable of. The theme the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge 2022 is built on the concept of rising despite difficulty, like a phoenix from the ashes, which the Virtual Challenge

itself has done amidst a global pandemic. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity, and there is a plethora of opportunity for creativity amidst the current challenges that we face.

This year we anticipate rising again as the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge 2022, in celebration of a South African stalwart, accompanied by a powerful digital strategy and virtual challenge, to become the most inclusive challenge South Africa has seen.

Over the years, the challenge has brought women from all walks of life together, to make a difference in our communities and once again, this year will be no different,

as we rise to the challenge as a nation, leaving no woman (or man) behind. While the challenge is still fully focused on women, we encourage women to bring their families, friends and animals, and welcome everyone, irrespective of gender, for this inclusive challenge.

EVENT DIARY DETAILS: 

Date: 3 September 2022

Time: 06h00 – 18h00 (subject to current lockdown restrictions) 

Location: Virtual Event (participants can select own route and distance) 

Entries+Website: https://sparvirtualchallenge.co.za/

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Molotsane the Epitome of How to Live Limitless

Kesa Molotsane will continue her proud association with the SPAR Women’s Challenge, from leading in the front during race day to shining in the virtual space. 

The 2017 SPAR Grand Prix winner may miss the excitement of live racing on spectator-lined streets but refuses to allow pandemic restrictions to limit her love for the road. 

Molotsane, who has represented South Africa on the international stage in track and cross country, has been named SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge ambassador.

The 29-year-old does not only excel on the road, the track, and off-road but is ploughing her experience back into the sport as the recently appointed vice-chairperson of the Athletics SA Athletes’ commission.

Molotsane is an example of what it is to #LiveLimitless, having overcome school bullying to become one of South Africa’s top distance athletes and strong female role models. 

“My biggest limit was having the whole class turn their backs on me in Grade 7. I believe that it was bullying on a different level,” said Molotsane.

“I overcame that by understanding that not everyone will be as considerate as you are. I was open to learning and treating experiences as learning curves and not as failures.”

Molotsane is also a strong advocate of menstrual hygiene education and providing young girls with sanitary products at school. 

“I believe with all my heart that girls deserve to be in school as much as boys. Young kids often cannot go to school because they are on their periods, and free sanitary towels allow these girls to stay in school and live limitless.”

Molotsane does not only talk the talk but will once again be leading from the front when she lines up for the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge, which will be held on 4 September 2021.

Entries will close on 15 August 2021, and are limited to 75 000 participants.

This year you will again be able to not only create your own race number online, but you can also create your own certificate of completion – check out sparvirtualchallenge.co.za and follow the few easy steps.  

Entrants residing outside South Africa will unfortunately not be able to receive a virtual challenge pack due to postal restrictions and courier fees. Your entry fee will still contribute to the donation of a pack of sanitary products for a schoolgirl in need.  

For more information on the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge, please see our FAQ section here: https://sparvirtualchallenge.co.za/faq/

Announcement video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I691zBf1Mag

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EVENT DIARY DETAILS: 

Date: 04 September 2021 

Time: 06h00 – 18h00 (subject to current lockdown restrictions) 

Location: Virtual Event (participants can select own route and distance) 

Website+Entries: https://sparvirtualchallenge.co.za/  

SPAR Believes SA Youth Should be able to #livelimitless

SPAR BELIEVES THE SA YOUTH SHOULD BE ABLE TO #LIVELIMITLESS

The global pandemic has locked down our youth during a time of their lives where they are desperately looking to spread their wings.

The past 18 months have tested the country’s resolve and demonstrated the incredible resilience of all sections of the South African society. 

While the South African youth’s wings have been clipped temporary, they have shown that they may be locked down, but they will not be held back. 

As part of the 2021 SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge’s campaign, we encourage South African women to #LiveLimitless and break down the barriers in their lives and redefine the limits that may exist. 

“What seemed impossible to us before has now become daily life—working from home and caring for our children at the same time? Impossible before, and now an average day,” said Alison Zweers, Managing Director of SPAR Western Cape.

“Making deals and holding meetings online? A strange and unknown concept that we now take in our stride. What further proof could you need to show that limitations are purely mental and how living without limits is truly possible.”

This year's theme has a strong focus on the youth, and we will be supporting the Petals Projects, which advocates for a shame-free education for all young women. 

There is a stigma and shame attached to their menstrual cycle for many young girls in South Africa. Due to the lack of access to simple hygiene products, they must make the difficult decision between embarrassment or education.

Entry fees for this year’s Virtual Challenge will support SPAR’s Petals Project, which aims to donate packs of sanitary pads to underprivileged girls removing one of the limitations to their education. 

SPAR is also proud to partner with three young South African women who embody what it means to #LiveLimitless. 

Chantel Struwig, Zizipho Soldati and Shirnell Swartz are three exceptional young women that refused to allow the challenges and limitations they had to deal with from an early age to define them. Instead, they have broken these shackles turning their challenges into opportunities. 

Struwig, born with a purplish-red mark covering most of her face, has become a vocal and virtual birthmark awareness advocate. Embracing her birthmark, the BCom Fashion student has overcome a negative self-image and encourages others to do the same using her social media platforms. 

The 26-year-old Soldati is an award-winning filmmaker, content creator, social media influencer and aspiring model. Soldati has not allowed a rare condition that causes very short limbs, called Phocomelia of the lower limbs, to put a limit on her dreams and ambitions. 

Swartz has excelled as a short speed skater representing South Africa at the Special Olympics, which has helped her discover her superb talent. She first got involved with Special Olympics South Africa when she was 13 years old at Casa De Sol School, where she found short speed skating.

This year you will again be able to not only create your own race number online, but you can also create your own certificate of completion – check out sparvirtualchallenge.co.za and follow the few easy steps.  

Entrants residing outside South Africa will unfortunately not receive a virtual challenge pack due to postal restrictions and courier fees. Your entry fee will still contribute by donating a pack of sanitary products for a schoolgirl in need. 

For more information on the SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge, please see our FAQ section here: https://sparvirtualchallenge.co.za/faq/

Announcement video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I691zBf1Mag

Image attached: 

From left to right: Shirnell Swartz, Zizipho Soldati, and Chantel Struwig.

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EVENT DIARY DETAILS: 

Date: 04 September 2021 

Time: 06h00 – 18h00 (subject to current lockdown restrictions) 

Location: Virtual Event (participants can select own route and distance) 

Website+Entries: https://sparvirtualchallenge.co.za/