Volkswagen Group Africa HealthCare Run is open for registration
March 2026
- The 2026 VWGA HealthCare Run will take place on Saturday 9 May
- The event aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among employees and the community
Kariega – Now in its fourth year, the Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) HealthCare Run is back and open for entries.
The event was first held in 2023 and to date has garnered a cumulative total of 4 390 participants, including VWGA employees and the greater Nelson Mandela Bay community. Of this total, 1 897 of these participants were from the 2025 HealthCare Run.
The 2026 iteration of the run will take place on Saturday, 9 May 2026. Participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible, as the number of participants will be limited to 2 000.
The race is split into three different categories: a 5km fun run, a 10km race and the challenging 21.1km distance, all of which will start and end at the Volkswagen PeoplePavilion in Kariega. The various routes will run partially through the main Volkswagen plant.
The 5km run is open to individuals of all ages, but minors need to be accompanied by an adult. The 10km and 21.1km races are restricted to individuals 16 years and above. There will be medals for all finishers of the different race categories and there will also be exciting lucky prizes up for grabs.
Entry fees are R50 for the 5km, R120 (Licensed athletes), R170 (unlicensed athletes) for the 10km and R180 (licensed athletes), R230 (unlicensed athletes) for the 21.1km race. The proceeds raised by the HealthCare Run will be donated to local charity organisations and NPOs.
This year’s HealthCare Run will be honoured by the presence of renowned top runners. In the 10km race, the likes of Melikhaya Frans, who is best recognised for winning the South African Half Marathon title and for representing South Africa at major international competitions, including the World Athletics Championships; Semihle Beda; Okuhle Dloto; Lukhanyiso April and Thandolwethu Matsalo are confirmed to run on the day.
The 21km race will feature the likes of Sinawo Poti, Lithobe Menzeleli, Mzwanele Maphekula and Desmond Zibi, a 62-year-old road running veteran with a history of prestigious running accolades under his name.
The race is part of the International HealthCare Run held across 20 Volkswagen sites worldwide each year. The aim of the event is to promote a healthy lifestyle among employees, though the race itself is open to the wider community. Additionally, the 2026 HealthCare Run forms part of an important year for VWGA, as the company is celebrating its 75th anniversary in South Africa this year.
“The VWGA HealthCare Run has grown into a flagship wellbeing initiative at Volkswagen Group Africa,” said Satish Ranchod, HR Director at VWGA. “It not only encourages our employees to prioritise their health, but also allows us to open our doors to the wider community. We are proud to see the continued growth and enthusiasm for the event, and we look forward to welcoming runners of all abilities to this year’s race, in support of healthy living and meaningful community upliftment.”
Race numbers can be collected at the Volkswagen PeoplePavilion during the following times:
Friday 8 May: 14:00 - 19:00
Saturday 9 May: 05:30 - 06:30
To enter, visit www.webtickets.co.za – entries close on 5 May 2026.