The controversy surrounding the funeral cover policy Boxing SA took out on behalf of licensees has reared its ugly head again, after the regulatory body refused to pay for the funeral of the recently deceased Mdantsane boxer, Phendula Kolisi.
Kolisi was laid to rest at his NU 1 Mdantsane home last weekend following a stabbing incident in a shebeen two weeks earlier.
Like all licensed boxers, managers, trainers and promoters a percentage of his purse was deducted from his fight earnings to go towards funeral cover.
But despite Kolisi’s handlers officially informing BSA about his death, the regulatory body has refused to make a payout towards his funeral expenses.
Kolisi’s manager, Ayanda Matiti said his lawyers had sent documents to BSA demanding answers, and if they were not received the matter would be taken to court.
“It is not about the money but a matter of principle. We have buried Kolisi already but we want BSA to do the right thing here.”
Since BSA took the cover with Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited on behalf of licensees, no one actually knows the terms and conditions of the policy.
Even BSA seems to be clueless about the cover, judging by the response board chairwoman Ntambi Ravele gave when asked about the terms.
Ravele first argued that the policy only covered boxers that died in the ring, but when reminded of other cases of licensees who received assistance for their funerals, she changed her tune.
“Perhaps you must send me the names of the licensees you are talking about so that we can verify this,” she said.
A quick research by the Daily Dispatch revealed that among the licensees who were assisted were boxing trainer Babalo Mpofu, who was found dead in bushes near his NU 1 home, boxer Simpiwe Mabona, who was found dead at his home in NU18, boxer Ludumo Galada who died in a car crash, and a whole lot of others.
But Ravele insisted that the policy underwritten by Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited demanded that only a boxer who died during a fight in the ring be covered.
“Coverage applies while participating in any Boxing South Africa- approved act of boxing, sparring or delivering of a blow to a punch bag or training partner within an approved boxing ring or designated training area,” the policy reads.
This revelation has caused consternation within the boxing fraternity, with all the licensees spoken to by the Dispatch having no clue about the actual terms of the policy.
Matiti argued that it was wrong for policyholders to be in the dark about what they were paying for. “I do not care what the terms of the policy are, but my point is that they should be agreed upon by those that are paying for it,” he said.
However there are allegations that the policy has since elapsed because BSA does not deposit the premiums to Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited.
Understandably, BSA decided to save the money deducted from boxers so that it could pay out a flat amount of R10 000 for the funeral of any licensees.
But since Ravele took over as the chairperson, she allegedly put an end to that arrangement, leading to claims of licensees dying out of the ring being rejected.
Funeral cover controversy heats up again
Kolisi was laid to rest at his NU 1 Mdantsane home last weekend following a stabbing incident in a shebeen two weeks earlier.
Like all licensed boxers, managers, trainers and promoters a percentage of his purse was deducted from his fight earnings to go towards funeral cover.
But despite Kolisi’s handlers officially informing BSA about his death, the regulatory body has refused to make a payout towards his funeral expenses.
Kolisi’s manager, Ayanda Matiti said his lawyers had sent documents to BSA demanding answers, and if they were not received the matter would be taken to court.
“It is not about the money but a matter of principle. We have buried Kolisi already but we want BSA to do the right thing here.”
Since BSA took the cover with Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited on behalf of licensees, no one actually knows the terms and conditions of the policy.
Even BSA seems to be clueless about the cover, judging by the response board chairwoman Ntambi Ravele gave when asked about the terms.
Ravele first argued that the policy only covered boxers that died in the ring, but when reminded of other cases of licensees who received assistance for their funerals, she changed her tune.
“Perhaps you must send me the names of the licensees you are talking about so that we can verify this,” she said.
A quick research by the Daily Dispatch revealed that among the licensees who were assisted were boxing trainer Babalo Mpofu, who was found dead in bushes near his NU 1 home, boxer Simpiwe Mabona, who was found dead at his home in NU18, boxer Ludumo Galada who died in a car crash, and a whole lot of others.
But Ravele insisted that the policy underwritten by Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited demanded that only a boxer who died during a fight in the ring be covered.
“Coverage applies while participating in any Boxing South Africa- approved act of boxing, sparring or delivering of a blow to a punch bag or training partner within an approved boxing ring or designated training area,” the policy reads.
This revelation has caused consternation within the boxing fraternity, with all the licensees spoken to by the Dispatch having no clue about the actual terms of the policy.
Matiti argued that it was wrong for policyholders to be in the dark about what they were paying for. “I do not care what the terms of the policy are, but my point is that they should be agreed upon by those that are paying for it,” he said.
However there are allegations that the policy has since elapsed because BSA does not deposit the premiums to Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited.
Understandably, BSA decided to save the money deducted from boxers so that it could pay out a flat amount of R10 000 for the funeral of any licensees.
But since Ravele took over as the chairperson, she allegedly put an end to that arrangement, leading to claims of licensees dying out of the ring being rejected.
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