Siya Sampula Mfanta doesn’t run for medals. He runs for the horses.
Cape Town, South Africa (26 January 2026) – Over the weekend, the Cart Horse Protection Association’s (CHPA) much-loved harness maker proved once again that good things happen when you move for a cause.
Siya smashed his qualifying race for the Two Oceans Marathon at the Timbercity Red Hill Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 57 minutes and 1 second. His goal was 3:30 – he beat it by more than half an hour!
He did it all for Cape Town’s working cart horses.
After the Cape Town Sanlam Marathon was cancelled earlier this season, Siya found himself without a qualifying race for Two Oceans. So he signed up for Red Hill – another qualifying marathon he had never run before. He blew it out of the water.
“Siya’s passion for running and running for the cart horses he makes comfortable working, is a testament to his dedication to helping the working cart horses on the Cape Flats,” shares The Cart Horse Protection Association.
Siya’s running journey began out of necessity, when he started jogging the 8.5km from Delft to Epping to save taxi money. Today, he’s completed major races including the Cape Town Marathon, Two Oceans and Comrades. Each step has been tied to raising funds for equine welfare.
Day after day, rain or shine, working horses pull carts to help their owners earn a living. They don’t get to take breaks when they’re sore or stop when they’re exhausted. Through CHPA, these horses receive veterinary care, food, shoeing, education for owners, and protection when they need it most.
With every race, Siya raises funds to help CHPA continue rescuing neglected horses, providing medical care, supplying feed, fitting shoes, and standing up for animals who have no voice of their own.
His current fundraising campaign, Siya Runs Again – For the Horses Who Can’t, is still open, and he’s once again setting his sights on South Africa’s iconic races while collecting donations to support the organisation’s daily work.
If you’d like to support Siya’s cause for the Cart Horse Protection Association, follow this link.
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