Andrew Muchineripi : Boxing
South African boxing is on its death bed and the only doctor capable of resuscitating the sick patient is Minister of Sport Steve Tshwete.
Matters were brought to the attention of the public, officials and the government with the resignation of the Gauteng Provincial Boxing Commission lawyer Mandla Mbongwe.
Mbongwe alleged that boxing was administered by a “cabal” which included Stan Christodoulou, CEO of the South African National Boxing Commission , and chairman Peter Ngatane.
There are also allegations of maladministration, bribery, money laundering, manipulation of television dates and widespread poaching of boxers by the bigger promoters.
Both the commission and Director General of Sport Mthobi Tyamzashe have publicly stated that if these matters had been brought to their attention by complainants they would have been investigated as a matter of urgency.
At its first convention held more than 18 months ago, where the whole spectrum of South African boxing was represented, similar complaints were made to the commission. In fact, on the first day of the convention there was a violent confrontation involving the Eastern Cape representatives. Since then not a word has been heard.
It is believed that in the last four years several promoters have had meetings with the commission behind closed doors trying resolve all these issues, but no real action has been forthcoming.
Last Monday, SABC TV news broadcast a distasteful tape of a telephone call in which manager/trainer Nick Durandt made racial slurs about blacks, Indians and Jews. Seeing that his bread and butter is earned from a top Jewish promoter and black boxers in particular, this is absolutely abhorrent.
In East London during a recent boxing tournament, a delegation of promoters led a protest against the Eastern Cape representative of the national body, attempting to prevent the broadcasting of a tournament by the SABC. The protesters are fed up with the present commission and have called for a commission of inquiry into boxing in South Africa.
The floodgates look like opening and if the commission doesn’t act swiftly to deal with all these matters then they must make way for responsible officials.
Disgruntled licence holders resolved at the Boxing Construction Development (a body not affiliated to the commission) meeting last weekend to have Christodoulou replaced as CEO of the national body.
Irate managers, promoters and seconds called on the government to act promptly and institute a commission of inquiry.
Many said the sport was dying because of a lack of development and the fact that the authorities had no interest in the sport meant the majority of promoters were unable to get TV dates for tournaments. However, Christodoulou has dismissed the allegations saying it was an ongoing personal attack on his name and reputation.