A decision on the suitability of East London’s Orient Theatre to host a Last Born Boxing Promotions tournament this coming weekend is going to be taken on Thursday.
The famous venue was flagged by Boxing South Africa (BSA) last December because of its appalling condition. BSA highlighted quite a number of defects including the absence of lights in boxers’ changing rooms as well as toilets, which also didn’t have lights.
The condition of the much-loved venue forced BSA’s director of operations Mandla Ntlanganiso to write a letter to Buffalo City Metro (BCM) city manager Mxolisi Yawa last December asking him to renovate Orient Theatre as its roof was leaking above the ring.
“Work on fixing the leaking roof, toilets and lights started on Monday. The agreement is that Orient Theatre has to be fixed so that it can be ready for Sunday’s tournament. A decision on its readiness will be taken on Thursday,” Mlandeli Tengimfene from Last Born Boxing Promotions said.
The Last Born Boxing Promotions tournament will be headlined by a vacant South African minimumweight title contest between Mthokozisi Ngxaka and Thami Luthuli.
Meanwhile, a report, which BCM is in possession of, clearly states that the council must note the dangers that are posed by the condition of the Orient Theatre.
The report further said that the eastern side, which is said to be sitting on a scaffolding, should be demolished before it collapses on its own and cause more damage that may lead to fire or death of people.
The state of the Orient Theatre is a cause for concern. Indeed , it is a high risk & poses danger to all of us. The safety of participants & boxing loving people is key and should be at the centre when taking such a decision.
Surely, we can’t act after the fact when the warning signs are there.
The state of the Orient Theatre is a cause for concern. Indeed , it is a high risk & poses danger to all of us. The safety of participants & boxing loving people is key and should be at the centre when taking such a decision.
Surely, we can’t act after the fact when the warning signs are there.