DA calls for Boxing South Africa intervention to protect unpaid boxers and officials

10 April 2015

I have today written to the Chairperson of Boxing South Africa, Ms Ntambi Ravele, urging her to immediately withdraw licenses of the Premier Boxing League (PBL) and promoters, for maximum period of 12 months for failing to pay boxers' fees and winnings.

Boxers and match officials have yet to be paid almost two months after they participated in 2015 edition of the PBL tournament. 

At the start of February, boxers competed in the PBL finale. That the PBL has yet to pay the boxers the R1.8 million in prize money, including R1 million to the overall winner of the tournament, Xolani Ndongeni, is scandalous. The Chief Organiser of the PBL, Mr Dicksy Ngqula has, instead, been obfuscating for failing to meet its own deadlines to pay the boxers.

In an addition, over two weeks ago promoter Mr Siphato Handi staged a boxing tournament in East London without paying boxers fees, including international boxers and officials ahead of the fight, and has yet to pay them to this day.

The failure to pay the boxer's prize money after the event and the match fees no later than 14 days before a tournament is a serious violation of the South African Boxing Act of 2011.

The withdrawal of the PBL's and Mr Handi's licenses to stage further tournaments for a year will be the harshest sanction that Boxing South Africa (BSA) can impose on its licensees for violating the provisions of the South African Boxing Act of 2011. 

It will also send a strong message to dodgy promoters and tournament organisers that BSA truly cares about the plight of boxers and will act decisively against promoters and tournament organisers without fear or favour.

Boxing in South Africa has been through a tumultuous time over a prolonged period as a direct result of instability at board level, mismanagement and the impasse over broadcasting rights largely due to BSA's hesitation to act against those tarnishing the sport.

The PBL and Mr Handi should not be allowed to stage more fights while boxers have not been paid what is rightfully theirs.

The DA will pursue all available parliamentary channels to seek recourse for local boxers against dodgy boxing promoters and tournament organisers. 

Statement issued by Solly Malatsi MP, DA Shadow Minister of Sports and Recreation, April 10 2015

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