Andile Mshumpela and Boxing South Africa (BSA) are on a collision course as the East London-based manager is questioning how the BSA sanctioning committee sanctioned an SA featherweight title clash between current champion Lindelani Sibisi and challenger Siyabulela Hem, who’s the current national junior-featherweight title holder.
Earlier this week, Mshumpela sent a challenge form for his boxer Bongani Fule to get a shot at Sibisi’s title, he, however, got the shock of his life when BSA’s technical assistant Mncedisi Ngqumba wrote back telling him that the sanctioning committee had already sanctioned a Sibisi-Hem fight.
What shocked Mshumpela the most is the fact that he was sending the challenge form for the second time. According to him, the first challenge form he sent in August last year was not entertained.
Writing to Ngqumba on Thursday, Mshumpela said that Fule’s first challenge was sent to BSA Eastern Cape provincial manager Siya Vabaza-Booi on the 11th of August. Now Mshumpela wants to know what became of that challenge form.
“Kindly note that our first challenge form for the featherweight title held by Lindelani Sibisi was submitted as early as 11 August 2025, email sent to Ms Siya Vabaza-Booi. This, therefore, means that Siyabulela Hem can never be a priority, especially when he is not even in the same division,” Mshumpela wrote.
“Bongani Fule has been a mandatory challenger and he is still holding that status. When was this so-called early challenge form submitted to BSA? Please submit to me a proof of this so-called early challenge form.”
Writing to Mshumpela on Monday this week, Ngqumba said: “We received a challenge form of Bongani Fule, the number two rated featherweight contender. However, an earlier challenge for the same title had already been submitted by Siyabulela Hem, the current junior-featherweight champion.
“Therefore, the sanctioning committee approved Siyabulela Hem’s challenge for the SA featherweight title. This decision is in line with the sanctioning and championship policy and rules, specifically clause 11.5, which states that “A champion, by virtue of his status as a champion, has the first privilege and opportunity to challenge another standing champion in a different weight division, provided that he/she meets all other BSA rules and/or policies applicable to sanctioning of championship titles.” – Monwabisi Jimlongo
