What was announced as a new innovation in the fistic sport is turning out to be just yet another long wait for fight fans as the Steve Tshwete Boxing Series is nowhere near coming to realisation.
Announced by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie during a national boxing convention at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC), the Steve Tshwete Boxing Series, in honour of the late Steve Tshwete, was going to become part of the South African fistic calendar.
Speaking at Freedom Park in Pretoria in March, McKenzie said: “Within 60 days we are going to have the Steve Tshwete tournament in East London at the new Orient Theatre, the home of boxing.
“I want to see which is the best province. I will make sure that Steve Tshwete’s grandchildren together with their parents are going to be flown to the tournaments so that they can see what a great man their grandparent was.”
The tournament has delayed by more than seven months since the first announcement made by McKenzie.
Despite the delays, Boxing South Africa (BSA) chief executive officer Tsholofelo Lejaka said: “Engagements between BSA and the department are still ongoing, but a lot of traction has been realised, more especially in the month of September.
“Two major meetings with national and provinces have been held to clarify the role of provinces and solicit their commitment and so far, that’s gone very well.”
Meanwhile, it was announced in March that the Steve Tshwete Boxing Series would feature 72 boxers from South Africa’s nine provinces. It would pit the best boxers province by province and would follow a point system. – Monwabisi Jimlongo
