When Ntsindiso Mphakathi left his home in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, for Johannesburg in 2003, little did he know that he would one day make history at the Soweto Marathon.

Mphakathi, 27, was the first South African over the line in the popular township race yesterday.

His third-place finish was the closest a local runner had come to ending a four-year foreign stranglehold on the Soweto race.

Though Mphakathi made the country proud, the men's title went to Tshepo Mathibelle of Lesotho (2:19:41), who beat defending champion Sintayehu Yinesu to the R220000 first prize.

"My relocation to Joburg was about schooling. I only developed interest in running four years ago," said Mphakathi, who lives with a relative in Dube.

Yesterday's race was just the second time he had entered the 42km in the Soweto Marathon, having previously finished as the first South African in ninth place in 2014.

"My goal was just to make a top 10 but it helped to stick with the leading pack because I was only stopped by cramps at the 37km mark," said the eldest of eight children, whose other major victory was his win at the Heroes Marathon two years ago.

Mphakathi, who is trained by 2013 Comrades Marathon champion Claude Moshiywa, conceded that the Soweto full marathon was one of the toughest.

"I mostly entered the 10km and my best position was fourth last year."

Mphakathi received R90000 for his third-place finish and he said the prize will go a long way, since he is one of the two breadwinners in his extended family.

Meanwhile, Irvette van Zyl became the first local woman winner in eight years with her victory in the women's 42km contest, while Mapaseka Makhanya came second.