By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Former Minister of Sport and erstwhile chairperson of the Boxing South Africa (BSA) board Mathemba Ngconde Balfour has remembered the late iconic sport commentator Dumile ‘Phesheya Phaya’ Mateza.
The former acting chief executive officer of the then South African National Boxing Control Commission (SANBCC) passed away after he lost a battle against cancer on Tuesday aged 62.
Mateza, who was born in Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape, made his name as a versatile sport commentator both on SABC radio and TV.
“I’m shocked and very hurt at the same time. This is painful. Dumile and I go a very long way,” Balfour said after hearing about Mateza’s death.
“Remember, I brought Dumile to boxing when I became the Minister of Sport in 1999. We had to change the Boxing Act of 1954. The Act was exactly my age. We had to change it because I couldn’t work with an Act that was as old as me. Dumile together with provincial MECs were there and they worked with me to change the Act.”
Balfour has also remembered the light moments he had with Mateza when the former broadcaster headed South African boxing.
“Dumile was a very collegial person. He was a people’s person. There were times where we sort of clashed because of our love for boxing. I remember the time when he shocked me by giving himself an increment while the Sheriff was on boxing’s case. Dumile loved sport with all his heart and he was a historian, too,” Balfour remarked.
Balfour and Mateza also worked together when the former Minister of Sport became the chairperson of the BSA board in 2011.
Many people started to notice Mateza, a former school teacher, after he joined the SABC as an isiXhosa newsreader on TV during the early 1980s. That was before he went on to become one of the most knowledgeable and finest sport commentators in South Africa.
The passing of Mr Dumile Mateza has come as a shock though I haven’t heard his voice for sometime now. Phesheya phaya was made part of the sports vocabulary even to those who do not necessarily speak IsiXhosa. A through legend of the nation is gone and his voice is now silent. Thank you very much Mr Mateza for being a servant of the nation. Lala ngoxolo Nala.
Awuuu bantu bakuthi! Hini Nala, xhwangusha, uDumza onesibindi oyithetha njengoko injalo! Umfo obelithanda ilizwe lakhe nenkqubela phambili kwezemidlalo! Siswele imilomo eliwaka yokwenza imibulelo kwelixhwangusha, usapho lwakhe nabazali bakhe ngokusizalela uDumile obeyindumasi kwezemidlalo. Tutwini kusapho lakhe ngokubanzi noMzantsi ngokupheleyo!!