New Boxing SA CEO Tsholofelo Lejaka has allayed fears that he might jump ship again, as he did five years ago when he left the position to join the government.
Lejaka was speaking after he was unveiled as the top BSA official following months of acting in the position since he was deployed by sports minister Gayton McKenzie to hold the fort amid an administrative crisis at the regulatory body.
Since his return, he has managed to facilitate reconciliation between BSA and the National Professional Boxing Promoters Association (NPBPA), which had taken the body and McKenzie’s predecessor, Zizi Kodwa, to court over his appointment of the board.
The association has since dropped the case with all parties smoking a peace pipe, though some areas of discontent are yet to be finalised.
One such sticking point is that in-debt promoters are yet to settle with BSA over levies from their tournaments, which led to the two parties being unable to find each other, though McKenzie reportedly sided with the promoters.
Lejaka confirmed that the issue was still outstanding but would take a clear direction after BSA had finalised the amendment of regulations.
“The issue of debt by promoters remains and it is an elephant in the room,” he said.
Promoters have consistently argued that the debt was unjustified as it emanated from the flawed sanctioning model BSA is employing, which is contrary to international practices.
“The process of fast-tracking the amendment of the regulations and introducing a new sanctioning model is our response.”
Lejaka said some of the dynamics of the debt were due to BSA’s flaws in the body’s finances, owing to the consistent hiring and departure of the body’s chief financial officers.
“The big issue of this debt is unreliability of the figures due to CFOs who come and go, and in between, the figures get confused.
“You would have a certain promoter said to be owing a figure, even though a payment was made and proof sent, but somehow it gets lost amid the hiring and departure of our CFOs and makes it difficult to enforce proper collection mechanisms.
“This issue underlines our skewed finances, which must be attended to urgently.”
Despite Lejaka’s admission, BSA still excluded promoters owing to the body from the purse bids for the vacant SA junior-welterweight title clash between East Londo’'s Aphiwe Mboyiya and Sibusiso Zingange.
Lejaka, who abruptly left the body in 2020, promised to finish his five-year term to complete the 2025-2030 strategic plan, which was approved by the board, though his contract had a yearly performance appraisal.
Though the CEO position is considered a hot seat with incumbents unable to cope, Lejaka is widely considered the perfect choice as he commands respect within the boxing fraternity and media.
Daily Dispatch
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