In no uncertain terms, Colin ‘Nomakanjani’ Nathan has told Boxing South Africa (BSA) that Lindelani Sibisi’s fight against Bongani Fule will go ahead next month despite the BSA sanctioning committee’s ruling that Sibisi must defend against Siyabulela Hem.
After receiving a letter from BSA sanctioning committee chairperson Irvin Buhlalu which said that Hem, as the SA junior-featherweight champion, has the first privilege to challenge Sibisi, Nathan hit back through a correspondence to the regulator’s director of operations Mandla Ntlanganiso and Mncedisi Ngqumba, the technical assistant.
“Considering what has gone on internally within BSA, I want to express, as a stakeholder and a manager caught up in the crossfire, that this situation is very concerning. Mncedisi, the contents of what was sent to me from you and Mandla on the 21st of January will be executed, as we already have a fight date on the 28th of March for Lindelani Sibisi vs Bongani Fule down in KZN,” Nathan, who manages Sibisi, wrote.
“I believe this situation has been handled poorly, it really was a simple process. Having said that, when a title challenge form is sent to a provincial manager, that person is under the umbrella of BSA. When it is escalated to the BSA head office, it means that BSA has received the title challenge form, irrespective of which person or committee under the banner of BSA has seen it or not.”
Nathan added that he found Buhlalu’s “final determination letter on the South African featherweight title” disturbing as he was never furnished with the objection letter from Ayanda Matiti, who promotes Hem.
“Mr Buhlalu confirms that there was an objection from the promoter regarding his fighter, Mr Hem. The BSA office also confirmed that there was a title challenge sent to BSA from the promoter against my champion, Mr Lindelani Sibisi. The above two points are factual and confirmed,” Nathan wrote.
“This brings me to the Act of 2001, firewall between promoters and managers, Section 28, 23. It is unlawful for (a) a boxer’s promoter to have a direct or indirect material or financial interest in (b) a licensed manager or management company that the boxer’s manager or management company.
“It is well-documented and factual that Mr Linda Saliwa is the manager for the promoter’s fighter. The factual evidence is that the promoter is managing and handling the fighter’s affairs, which is against the Act, as evident in points 1 and 2.”
The award-winning Nathan further said: “Mr Buhlalu confirms delays in the initial challenge. While a challenge for the featherweight title was initiated in August 2025 by the camp of Bongani Fule, the committee finds that the Sibisi and Fule camps exceeded the reasonable timeframe to finalise the challenge process and deliver the bout.”
Quoting the South African Boxing Act of 2001 boxing amendment regulations clauses 17(1) and (2), Nathan said: “A challenger for a provincial or South African title, as the case may be, shall submit his or her challenge to Boxing SA on a form similar to Annexure J. By submitting a challenge, a challenger warrants that he or she is in training, is fit and willing to meet the champion at least 30 days after Boxing SA has approved the challenge.
“BSA is a regulatory body and the South African title is a prestigious title. How on earth can two camps negotiate any contest without getting sanction or at least provisional sanction in writing from BSA? Why didn’t the BSA sanctioning committee provide the above? Mr Buhlalu clearly admits there was a challenge from Mr Fule. I am embarrassed for the offices of Boxing South Africa. There seems to be unrest within the regulatory body and all the dirty laundry is now visible for us to witness. This is now the second time a situation like this has occurred — last September and now.”
Nathan concluded: “I thank Mr Ntlanganiso for his ruling on the 21st of January, which being from the COO and head office, supersedes the nonsense received yesterday. I sincerely hope that BSA can resolve its internal problems swiftly to avoid this in the future.” – Monwabisi Jimlongo
