By Monwabisi Jimlongo
The chairperson of the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA) Ayanda Matiti has explained why his organisation is taking legal action against Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, over the appointment of the new board of Boxing South Africa (BSA).
Speaking to Benjamin Leshoro on Newzroom 405 on Tuesday morning, Matiti made it clear that his association wants nothing to do with the new board, which was appointed by Kodwa last month.
“Obviously, we want the board to be set aside because it’s an end product of an illegitimate process. Remember, you can’t have a Minister that comes into the space and knocks when he’s already inside, with all due respect to the Minister. It’s very important that we establish certain rules in South Africa, we are a constitutional democracy,” Matiti said.
The new BSA board, which was initially due to take office on Tuesday, is made up of its chairperson Sifiso Shongwe, Luxolo September, Sakhiwe Sodo, Romy Titus, Princess Mangoma, Nande Mheshe and Dr Mary-Gene Manthata-Setati.
“The issue is not with the person in the main. The issue is how the Minister has undertaken the process. We are a body that leads the association of promoters, who are responsible for boxing development in the country. So, we are in that landscape and we are an end product of the Act. We are a creature of the Act. So, the authority and the prerogative that the Minister has, is derived from the very same Act,” Matiti said during the interview.
“What the Minister has done is to exercise his prerogative, but he has failed to live up to the expectation of honouring up to the obligation that comes with that prerogative. There’s a Section 9.2, which compels the Minister or instructs the Minister to appoint the board, which he has done. But the very same section instructs the Minister to exercise that authority after having consulted the associations or federations that are in the sector. That’s the issue at hand.
“It’s not only the section that he violated. It’s one among the sections that the Minister disregarded. You can’t be happy with the authority that is given to you, but be unhappy with the obligation that comes with that authority. We are in dispute in terms of the interpretation.”
When asked what consultation is according to him, Matiti said: “Well, that obligation is the obligation of the Minister. And when I’m seated here leading an association that has not been consulted, I would not be able to define what consultation is. But what I can tell you from the point of view of the fact, we have not been consulted.”
Matiti added: “Appointing a board of Boxing South Africa is not like appointing an SOE. You do not have a shareholder of 51 percent. It has people that have been in the sector over time, who are grouped into associations.
“Our own opinion is our own fact, subject to a court of law. Our issue is that the Minister must undertake a meaningful contact with the association, with us. Remember, the Minister is not a boxer, he’s neither of the licensees that are explained by the Act. When the Minister exercises that authority, he would have derived some insights in terms of what kind of a person that he should appoint.”
