Zebra Tribe stars laced up for fourth Cape Town Marathon last month to boost empowerment of young SA female athletes.
The running “wing” of Stellenbosch-based non-profit Endurocad, founded in 2013 by South African Olympic silver medallist Elana Meyer and former Cape Town Marathon race director Janet Welham, the Zebra Tribe have become a welcome fixture at the Mother City’s iconic race weekend, where members raise funds to help develop the country’s next generation of star athletes.
A 120 girls from Endurocad’s ACHIEVE Pathway Programme, which uses running to develop strong, self-sufficient young women who can have a positive impact in their communities, took part in the 5 km race.
“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 Cape Town Marathon has become an essential platform for Endurocad to spread its message of empowering the youth and women through sports development. 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.
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 (800 m), 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.”
