The City of Tshwane made athletics history when it hosted the inaugural Simbine Classic at Pilditch Stadium on 28 April 2026, bringing together more than 120 athletes from South Africa and around the world, described as a major milestone for local track and field.
The event, spearheaded by Akani Simbine, was the first World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting to be hosted in South Africa. The competition featured elite sprinting and field events while also spotlighting Tshwane’s ambition to become a leading destination for international sporting events.
The event attracted athletes, spectators, and local businesses, with many community members saying it brought excitement and visibility to athletics nationwide.
Emma Campbell a resident in Pretoria and athletics supporter, who attended the event with her younger brother said, “Seeing international athletes compete here made me realise that our city is able to host world-class athletics events successfully.”
Sam Botha, a Laudium resident who attended the event, said the competition inspired young people in the area.
“Most young athletes only watch these competitions on television,” he said. “Now they’ve got to experience it in person. It gives children from townships and local schools something to dream about.”
Nomsa Mabaso, a vendor who sold food outside the stadium during the event, said the competition also helped small businesses.
“There were many people coming into the area, and business was much better than usual,” she said. “Events like this help us make money while also bringing the community together.”
The Simbine Classic forms part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver series, a global athletics circuit that provides athletes with opportunities to compete at high-level international meetings outside major championships.
For Tshwane, hosting the event was also about boosting tourism and economic activity while showcasing local sporting facilities to a global audience. The city said the event reflected its ongoing commitment to supporting sports development and creating opportunities for athletes at all levels.
The City of Tshwane also said hosting the event formed part of its commitment to positioning the capital as a destination for major sporting events that inspire communities, stimulate local economic activity and showcase world-class facilities.
The Simbine Classic not only delivered world-class performances on the track but also raised questions about how major sporting events can create long-term opportunities for young athletes and local communities beyond a single day of competition.
Many spectators left hopeful that the inaugural event marked the beginning of a new era for South African athletics.