Intimidation at Comrades ‘criminal’, say Israeli runners

A traumatised Israeli runner who participated in the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 8 June, says he has never experienced threats and intimidation like that before in his life.

Speaking to the SA Jewish Report on condition of anonymity, the runner, who has competed in numerous international sporting events, said he was deeply shaken by the harassment he experienced on the route, and has vowed not to return unless organisers can guarantee the safety and security of all runners.

Though this year’s Comrades Marathon was hailed as a showcase of South African endurance and unity, it was marred for six Jewish international athletes who were subjected to blatant harassment and intimidation along the route. The incidents not only cast a dark shadow over the event, but raised concerns about the safety and security of future participants in the country’s premier sporting event.

“This was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Full-on threats, verbal abuse up close and personal. It was unsettling,” the runner said.

At around the 40km mark, he recalls being in the zone when he heard shouts of, “Free Palestine!” to his left. At first, he assumed the chants were being made in general. But he soon realised the protesters were looking straight at him. “Then it hit me – jeez – they’re tracking me, personally,” he said.

Later, about 8km from the finish, on a hill, the intimidation escalated. Protesters with Palestinian flags and a microphone confronted him directly. “Security personnel tried to step in, but were ineffective. Activists were shouting abuse at me. I smiled, trying to show some strength, but this is not what I signed up for. I was alone, uncomfortable, and worried about what they might do next – throw something, or worse?”

Videos of these incidents have since gone viral, showing Israeli runners being followed and verbally abused by anti-Israel activists during the race.

Although he wasn’t physically confronted at the finish line, two other Jewish participants had to be escorted to the international tent by police. “I’ve visited South Africa many times. This time, I was just relieved to leave after the most awful and unsettling experience,” the runner said.

At the time of publishing, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA), which prides itself on being apolitical, had issued no communication to the affected runners. Nor had Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie addressed the blatant harassment of international athletes. The silence was described as “disgraceful” by one South African Jewish runner.

Another Israeli athlete who completed his eighth Comrades this year, was ambushed by hecklers around the 83km mark. A female activist ran beside him, screaming, “Go home, your brother is murdering children in Gaza!”

“What they did is completely illegal and they should be sued,” said the athlete who wishes to remain anonymous. “There’s no place for politics at Comrades.”

Asked if he would return, he said, “I want to aim for my green number, but I want to know that this will never happen again and that my and everyone else’s safety will be guaranteed.”

Another participant called the ordeal “a nightmare”, saying, “I came to run a race. I wasn’t shocked by what they did, but it was totally unacceptable. I want nothing more to do with this. I don’t feel safe to comment further.”

The runners were heckled, harassed, and tracked mid-race by members of the African National Congress Youth League in KwaZulu-Natal (ANCYL-KZN); Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions South Africa; and other anti-Israel groups waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans. Their names and race numbers had been published in advance by the ANCYL-KZN, effectively doxing them and enabling activists to track their location.

The iconic ultramarathon, known as “The Ultimate Human Race”, has long been a symbol of unity and inclusion, with participants from more than 80 countries.

In his personal capacity, CMA board member Rory Steyn told the SA Jewish Report, “The actions of the ‘protesters’ are illegal, and the affected athletes are well within their rights to lay charges.”

Said Steyn, “The harassment and physical and verbal intimidation of any athlete at Comrades is appalling. Our race stands for peace, freedom, and respect for all. We’re apolitical and non-aligned precisely because of the genesis of Comrades. Everyone and anyone is welcome to run Comrades and to do so safely. We welcome everyone irrespective of heritage.”

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) called the harassment “reprehensible,” noting that the Comrades’ long-standing reputation for unity had been tarnished by an anti-Israel agenda.

“It’s disturbing that only Israeli athletes were singled out, despite the presence of participants from nations with ongoing conflicts and human rights abuses, such as Russia,” the SAJBD said.

Protesters chanted “Down, down Israel!” and “You’re not welcome here – go home!” during the race. Ironically, one runner remarked, “That’s an admission that Israel is, in fact, our home.”

Jonathan Cooper, who has completed the Comrades six times, wrote to the CMA, describing the scenes as “cowardly” and warning, “If security controls aren’t put in place now, the Comrades Association is creating the possibility of future attacks that may end in tragedy. Have we already forgotten the Boston Marathon?”

No apology or direct response was issued by the CMA until questioned by the SA Jewish Report three days after the race.

It said, it didn’t condone “any form of discrimination, harassment, or conduct that compromises the dignity and safety of any of our runners”. It reaffirmed its commitment to hosting “an inclusive and safe event for all participants”, and said it “deeply regret[s] any instances where individuals may have felt targeted or unsafe, regardless of nationality, race, religion, or political affiliation”.

“The Comrades is a race, not a rally,” the organisation stated. “We remain politically neutral, and expect all involved – spectators, runners, volunteers, and partners – to respect that ethos.”

The CMA confirmed that, in the days leading up to the race, it had received calls to ban Israeli runners. In response, it shared a letter it had issued at the time, stating, “While we acknowledge and respect the deeply held convictions that underpin your correspondence, it’s important to clarify that the Comrades Marathon has always maintained a non-political and apolitical stance. Our role isn’t to adjudicate complex international conflicts, but to provide a platform for human connection that transcends them.”

However, the statement stopped short of a formal apology or specific condemnation of the harassment of Israeli runners. It also made no mention of follow-up support for the affected athletes or disciplinary action against those responsible for breaching race protocols.

A Jewish South African runner summed up the feeling on the ground, saying, “The CMA prides itself on strict rules – no unofficial branding, no ambush marketing – yet somehow it allowed full-blown political activism on the course. That says everything.”