Athletics | SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane: A Celebration of Purpose, Empowerment and Giving Back

Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa: Centurion, 4 August 2025 – While the streets around SuperSport Park in Centurion echoed with the joy and strength of 17,000 women participating in the sold-out SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane this past weekend, the true heartbeat of the event was the incredible impact made far beyond the finish line.

Sea of Green - Thousands of women ready to take on the streets of Centurion, celebrating womanhood together.

Hosted in Women's Month, the 2025 edition of the SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane once again proved that this iconic event is about so much more than a race. It is a rallying cry for community, empowerment, and giving back.

As part of the My SPAR My Community campaign, over R350,000 was donated to organisations doing vital work to support and uplift women across the region. These include charities focused on early childhood development, educational support, the fight against Gender-Based Violence, and burn victim care at the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital.

"At SPAR, we believe that when women thrive, communities thrive. This event is a celebration of our most loyal customers, but also a strategic and heartfelt platform to invest back into their lives and futures," says Ralph Rajagopaul, Divisional Marketing Director – SPAR North Rand & Botswana.

A significant highlight of this year's event was the ongoing SPAR End Period Poverty campaign, aimed at eradicating period poverty by 2030. Thanks to the sanitary pad donation drive and the support of thousands of participants, 4,000 girls will now be able to stay in school for another month, removing a critical barrier to education.

Win-A-Car with Sanitary Pads- Sanitary pads with the car that was won on the day.

"Empowerment starts with dignity," says Mpudi Maubane, National PR, Communications & Sponsorships Manager at SPAR South Africa. "By tackling challenges like period poverty and supporting GBV prevention programmes, we are making bold strides toward a future where every girl has the opportunity to thrive."

The day was also filled with moments of joy and celebration. In a highlight that had the entire stadium cheering, one lucky participant won a brand-new Hyundai Exter worth R269,000, adding even more excitement to an already memorable event.

Hyundai Exter winner- Pauline Mathebula is the lucky winner of a Hyundai Exter. Pauline Mathebula was drawn from 17,000 entries at the 2025 SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane on Saturday 2 August 2025. Pictured with the winner is Dean Turnbull, Dealer Principal at Hyundai Centurion, Pretoria.

Elite athletes were also recognised for their incredible talent, with Glenrose Xaba taking top honours in the 10km race and walking away with R43,000 in prize money. In total, R195,500 in prize money was awarded – all to women – underlining SPAR's commitment to creating tangible opportunities for female athletes to succeed.

Glenrose Tshwane win- South African running ace, Glenrose Xaba (Boxer) successfully defended her SPAR Grand Prix Tshwane title on Saturday 2 August 2025 when she won the 10km race in 32.39.

The SPAR Women's Challenge Tshwane continues to be more than a race – it is a movement. One that celebrates resilience, honours womanhood, and builds a better, more equitable future for all.

Photo credits: Reg Caldecott / Gallo Images