Last week’s appointment of Luthando ‘Trompies’ Zibeko as Boxing South Africa (BSA) communications and media liaison officer has been brought into question.
People calling themselves boxing pundits and stakeholders wrote to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture earlier this week asking for an investigation into Zibeko’s appointment.
The group from East London alleged that Zibeko got appointed because of his ‘proximity’ to BSA board member Luxolo September, who is based in Cairo, Egypt, where he’s a senior executive at the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a letter sent to Bakang Lethoko, the chief of staff at the Department of Sport, the group alleged: “We as some of the boxing pundits and stakeholders have come to learn that BSA has appointed Mr Luthando Zibeko as its media officer, however, from our knowledge the gentleman is a soccer person through and through and has never been part of pugilism.
“That is not the real concern as such, however, our gripe is that he is from the same village Tsomo as the BSA board member Mr Lux September comes from. That to us, is a red flag because it seems as if it is a job for pals. We, therefore, kindly request that the department conducts an investigation on the appointment.”
Ccontacted for comment, September said: “I’m sorry, I cannot engage with this. I sit in the board, not in administration. It’s logical. What do I have to do with the appointment of officers? I come from Ngqamakwe, Luthando comes from Tsomo.”
Meanwhile, Zibeko is being dubbed a soccer person because he is a former Chippa United head of communications and marketing. And before that, Zibeko served as media liaison officer at Kaizer Chiefs. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
