The “Zebra Tribe” is set to make its fourth appearance at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, continuing its mission to support the development of South Africa’s future national athletes.

Founded in 2013 by Olympic silver medalist Elana Meyer and former Cape Town Marathon race director Janet Welham, the Zebra Tribe is the running arm of Endurocad, a non-profit organisation based in Stellenbosch. Their efforts focus on nurturing young athletic talent while empowering youth, particularly girls, through education and sports.

The Zebra Tribe takes its name from its first Cape Town Marathon outing, when South African running icon Zola Budd gifted team members—including Meyer—miniature zebra carvings to carry during the race. This gesture symbolised unity and perseverance, values the team continues to uphold.

This year, the Zebra Tribe will feature high-profile participants such as world athlete Rhonda Veetre, South Africa’s first black female athlete to earn national colours, Blanche Moila, and Elana Meyer herself.

Additionally, 120 girls from Endurocad’s ACHIEVE Pathway Programme will participate in the 5km event. The programme uses running to inspire young women to become strong, self-sufficient leaders who positively impact their communities.

The Zebra Tribe will also have 20 runners in the marathon, 30 in the 10km, and several competitors in the trail running events, all with the goal of raising funds and awareness for Endurocad’s youth development initiatives.

Endurocad’s holistic approach to athletic development includes academic bursaries, elite training programmes, and community outreach efforts. This vision has already produced a new generation of athletes who represent South Africa on global stages, proving the effectiveness of combining education with athletic excellence.

“Through the Endurocad ACHIEVE Pathway Programme, we’re empowering young people to set ambitious goals and dream big. It’s about giving them the tools and confidence to realise their full potential on and off the track. When they believe in themselves, anything is possible,” Meyer said.

The Zebra Tribe are also expected to field 20 runners in the marathon, 30 in the 10km and five in the trail running events.

In the 10km, the club’s elite men’s athletes will all be looking to run sub-29-minute times. They include Deon-Lee Hendricks’ (personal best 29:02), Awethu Ntsotho (PB 29:10) and Emmanuel Fredericks (PB 29:23).

Philani Sengce, meanwhile, will be looking to improve on his eighth-place finish in the 46km trail run. In the women’s 10km, Yandiswa Shange will aim to improve on her PB of 35:58.

In addition to the ACHIEVE programme, the organisation supports the Elite Athlete Development and Educational Bursary Programme, which offers talented young athletes between the ages of 18 and 25 the opportunity to join a club and train with high-performance coaches at world-class facilities.

Bursaries are available for athletes to receive an academic or skills qualification as part of a holistic athlete development model. The main aim of this program is to equip athletes to compete at the highest level and have the chance to develop both their running and professional careers.

Endurocad also drives the Stellenbosch High School Bursary Programme, which aims to impact high school students from the broader Western Cape through education and athletics. Thanks to the backing of the primary donor Athletics, Cycling, Education (ACE) Trust, the programme includes full schooling, hostel accommodation, specialised coaching, academic tutors, and mentors.

These programmes have created a host of national representatives over the years. In 2023 alone, Ansume de Beer (pole vault), Beyon Prins (800m), Luke van der Merwe (high jump), and Wiaan Martin (4X 400m relay) flew the flag for South Africa at the CAA Junior and Youth Championships.

There have also been successes at the senior level, with Nadeel Wildschutt (World Cross Country 2024), Lisha van Onselen (World Cross Country 2024) and Lijan van Niekerk (World Trail Running Championships) all donning the green-and-gold at the international level.

“It has become the norm for young talented athletes to study and gain a qualification while they also focus on the development of their athletic talent,” Meyer said.

“We have seen so many athletes who have come through the system who now have a degree, diploma, or another qualification, as well as athletes who have made it to the highest level, representing South Africa on the global stage. Our vision from the start was to empower the youth through education and athletics in a unique and holistic way.”

Members of the public can support Endurocad and the Zebra Tribe’s fundraising run by clicking here: Charities | Sanlam Cape Town Marathon