Boxing stakeholders are up in arms over the decision by Boxing SA to close its satellite office in Gqeberha to streamline administration in the province.
BSA decided to close some of its offices, opting to let them fall under the administration of other provincial managers including in the Eastern Cape, which will now be under the authority of Siya Vabaza-Booi in East London.
Vabaza-Booi replaced controversial long-serving Phakamile Jacobs, who had handled administration in the province for more than two decades.
While Jacobs was in charge, Nceba Dladla assisted him by handling EP affairs after replacing the late Mthunzi Mapitiza, who was appointed when it became clear that the province could not be under one administration due to its vastness.
EP, which has a healthy boxing rivalry with the Border region which incorporates East London, is one of the boxing hubs in the country, having produced stars in the sport.
These include former world champion the late Mzukisi Sikali, his rival Lindi Memani, legendary SA champions Vuyani Nene, Phumzile Madikane, Linda Nondzaba and a slew of prospects-turned-world champions such as Zolani Petelo, the late Mthuthuzeli Nene, Sandile Mentile and Nkosana Valtein to mention a few.
While some achieved success after relocating to other regions, such as Memani, Petelo and Valtein, who all sought greener pastures in East London, while Sikali trekked to Gauteng, the region punched above its weight with many memorable tournaments over the years.
When BSA came into being in 2001 after the promulgation of the Boxing Act, the two regions were merged into one, but an outcry convinced the national body to change its decision and open the satellite office in Gqeberha to handle tournaments in municipalities such as Makana, Blue Crane and Ndlambe.
While several stakeholders declined to voice their concerns on record about the closing of the office, opting to let the Nelson Mandela Bay Promoters’ Association (NMBPA) handle them, the decision has invoked despondency in the region.
NMBPA secretary Mbali Zantsi confirmed that plans were afoot to meet BSA regarding the matter.
“I will unpack details about this matter later, right now I am in a meeting,” she said.
However, later calls went unanswered.
BSA defended the decision, emphasising it was geared towards reconfiguration of administration not only in the region but in other provinces as well.
Among the provinces affected are Free State, which has been merged with Gauteng and North West under Lehlohonolo Ramagole as one provincial manager, Western Cape and Northern Cape under Mzoli Tempi, and Limpopo merging with Mpumalanga under Oupa Lubisi.
Mike Dube will still be in charge of KwaZulu-Natal.
“In line with the reconfiguration of the entity, BSA decided to amalgamate certain provinces for optimal utilisation of the provincial managers after some contracts expired on May 31,” BSA said in a statement.
However, Nelson Mandela Bay boxing stakeholders have consistently maintained frosty relations with BSA, with the two parties clashing on numerous occasions.
One of the incidents saw BSA being sidelined in the boxing indaba hosted by the metro outlining how it would fund NMBPA, to the chagrin of then BSA director of operations Cindy Nkomo, who insisted the national body should administer the funds.
She said this was the case with other partners such as the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture, which deposited the funds directly to BSA.
Insiders in the metro alleged BSA had previously attempted to close the office but was met with strong resistance by boxing stakeholders including the executive of the Eastern Cape Boxing Promoters’ Association under the chair of the late Tando Zonke.
This was despite the metro proving its capability to run the sport and source its own funding.
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