Boxing SA boss Ntambi Ravele insists that there is no loophole in the SA Boxing Act of 2001 for exploitation.
Ravele was reacting to the latest suspension of former board member-turned promoter Andile Sidinile of Sijuta Promotions.
Sidinile was suspended for failing to meet the February 15 deadline to repay BSA the money it spent to pay some of the boxers who fought in his April tournament in East London.
BSA undertook to pay all the monies owed by promoters to boxers in order to execute its own disciplinary measures against the offending promoters without inconveniencing the boxers.
Sidinile and another former BSA board member Siphatho Handi of Mamali Promotions as well as Premier Boxing League (PBL) owner Dicky Ngqula were bailed out by the regulatory board in lieu of them reimbursing it.
Handi was the first promoter to be suspended after failing to pay boxers who fought in his March 22 2015 tournament in Mdantsane.
His case was far worse than Sidinile who at the time was part of the provincial executive of promoters that handled his case.
Handi did not pay a single boxer who fought in the tournament, including two from Philippines Rey Loreto and Jeth Purisima, prompting their handlers to seek government intervention.
Incredibly, like Sidinile, who only failed to pay two boxers in comparison, Handi is also a former board member sparking concerns if the duo discovered a loophole in the Act or BSA rules to exploit when they were there.
But Ravele dismissed the perception and ruled out any possibility of the board scrutinising its rules to avoid a similar occurrence in future.
“The fact that both Mamali and Sijuta were board members has nothing to do with our rules as BSA,” she said.
“I cannot even say that we will look at our rules because in essence there is nothing to look for.”
Ravele said the two promoters were caught on the wrong end of the law primarily because they relied on government funding for their shows.
“I know for a fact that Mamali was promised funding but was letdown at the last moment. So to link their failure to pay purse-monies for boxers to them being former board members does not hold.”
She added that the Eastern Cape has been hit with the non-payments because it is the only province whose government supports boxing.
“I think the fact that other promoters from other provinces did not fall on the trap is due to the fact that their provincial governments do support boxing.”
BSA is contemplating taking other steps to recover its money from the suspended promoters with Sidinile also likely to face additional criminal charges due to alleged letter forgery of the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture he submitted to BSA as confirmation of his funding by the government.
Sidinile has denied the allegations but refused to comment further.
BSA not to blame for fiasco
Ravele was reacting to the latest suspension of former board member-turned promoter Andile Sidinile of Sijuta Promotions.
Sidinile was suspended for failing to meet the February 15 deadline to repay BSA the money it spent to pay some of the boxers who fought in his April tournament in East London.
BSA undertook to pay all the monies owed by promoters to boxers in order to execute its own disciplinary measures against the offending promoters without inconveniencing the boxers.
Sidinile and another former BSA board member Siphatho Handi of Mamali Promotions as well as Premier Boxing League (PBL) owner Dicky Ngqula were bailed out by the regulatory board in lieu of them reimbursing it.
Handi was the first promoter to be suspended after failing to pay boxers who fought in his March 22 2015 tournament in Mdantsane.
His case was far worse than Sidinile who at the time was part of the provincial executive of promoters that handled his case.
Handi did not pay a single boxer who fought in the tournament, including two from Philippines Rey Loreto and Jeth Purisima, prompting their handlers to seek government intervention.
Incredibly, like Sidinile, who only failed to pay two boxers in comparison, Handi is also a former board member sparking concerns if the duo discovered a loophole in the Act or BSA rules to exploit when they were there.
But Ravele dismissed the perception and ruled out any possibility of the board scrutinising its rules to avoid a similar occurrence in future.
“The fact that both Mamali and Sijuta were board members has nothing to do with our rules as BSA,” she said.
“I cannot even say that we will look at our rules because in essence there is nothing to look for.”
Ravele said the two promoters were caught on the wrong end of the law primarily because they relied on government funding for their shows.
“I know for a fact that Mamali was promised funding but was letdown at the last moment. So to link their failure to pay purse-monies for boxers to them being former board members does not hold.”
She added that the Eastern Cape has been hit with the non-payments because it is the only province whose government supports boxing.
“I think the fact that other promoters from other provinces did not fall on the trap is due to the fact that their provincial governments do support boxing.”
BSA is contemplating taking other steps to recover its money from the suspended promoters with Sidinile also likely to face additional criminal charges due to alleged letter forgery of the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture he submitted to BSA as confirmation of his funding by the government.
Sidinile has denied the allegations but refused to comment further.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos