Navachab champions set for Nelson Mandela Bay test
Reigning Navachab Half Marathon champions Lavinia Haitope and Matias Simon are set to take on the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon Championships this Saturday in Gqeberha, South Africa.
QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine is backing the Namibian Police Force duo after they won the elite 21.1km categories at last year’s Navachab Half Marathon in Karibib, where Simon clocked 1:04:22 and Haitope ran 1:17:35 to defend her 2024 crown.
Haitope will now look to defend her Nelson Mandela Bay women’s title, which she won in 1:14:11 last year, while Simon will make his debut at the regional showpiece.
Speaking at a send-off press conference in Windhoek yesterday, held in collaboration with the sport ministry, Simon expressed his excitement ahead of his debut.
“My preparations went well. I’m ready to compete. I am just waiting for the day to see how [it will all unfold],” he said.
Paulus invited
Namibian long-distance runner and 2024 Navachab Half Marathon champion Daniel Paulus, who won the Karibib race in 1:04:38, has also been invited to the Nelson Mandela Bay race following his standout runner-up finish at the event last year.
Paulus competed at last year’s Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon, with his expenses covered by the mine, as the then-reigning Navachab champion alongside Haitope.
He crossed the line 59 seconds behind Lesotho’s Kamohelo Mofolo, who won the men’s race in 1:00:52.
This year, the mine will back Simon and Haitope, who will be accompanied by one of its employees, Elton Hiskia, who won last year’s social race, according to the organisers.
The contingent to South Africa will include Berthold “BK” Karumendu as technical director and coach, McLyn Kasale of QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine as head of department, and the mine’s spokesperson, Tuafi Shafombabi, as marketing manager.
Speaking at the send-off, Karumendu said Paulus was unable to defend his Navachab Half Marathon title last year because he was competing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
In Tokyo, Paulus was unable to finish the men’s marathon after reaching the 35km mark in 1:50:02.
“We are now fielding our champions from last year at this event, as we see it as a good opportunity for them to measure themselves against the best from around the world. This is a good opportunity for them to improve their times and world rankings,” Karumendu said.
Exposure
He added that the exposure is part of the mine’s broader effort to improve athletes beyond prize money, while also contributing to the long-term ambition of helping Namibia stage internationally recognised, certified road races.
“This is also our way of contributing towards youth empowerment, job creation and sport development. We want to create [tangible opportunities] for our athletes to take home and improve their lives,” he said.
Shafombabi urged the public to sign up for this year’s Navachab Half Marathon, set for September, saying entries are already open ahead of the official launch on 28 July.
Entries can be made via EasyReg: https://www.easyreg.co.za/events/navachab-half-marathon-2026
“This [expenses-covered trip] is what can happen to those who sign up for the race and win it. Navachab is prepared to run a mile with you and really enhance sport, not just for elite athletes but also for our own employees,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the mine’s representative, McLyn Kasale, said their support for the country’s long-distance runners is a long-term commitment.
“We’re in for the long haul,” he said.
