Minister of Sport Gayton McKenzie is reportedly encouraged to have received some assurance from the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA) that they are willing to work with the newly-appointed board of Boxing South Africa (BSA).
McKenzie announced the new BSA board on the weekend following some missed deadlines and dilly-dallying. Accompanied by his deputy Peace Mabe, McKenzie met the board on Monday.
The board is headed by its chairperson Ayanda Zamantungwa, Mthokozisi Radebe, Sydney James, Rina Subotzky Jude, Saudah Hamid, Siyakhula Simelane and Vincent Blennnies.
During his meeting with the board members, McKenzie emphasised that they should concern themselves with playing a strategic role and exercising oversight of the entity’s senior management team and always put the well-being of boxers first.
“Boxing was once the second most popular sport in South Africa and it remains a massive sport globally. However, we have seen a dramatic decline in the health of this sport in South Africa over recent years, with unfortunate periods of broadcast blackout, the exploitation of boxers, sustainability concerns for promoters,” McKenzie said.
“The domination of the boxing ecosystem by a small group of promoters and a too-complex system of sanctioning fights and taking payment from promoters, which leads to arguments over payments.”
McKenzie added: “Boxing was one of the saving graces of sport during apartheid, and we cannot allow this sport with so much history and heritage to wither on the vine.”
