BSA allows more time for licences

ONCE again Boxing SA has extended the deadline for licence renewals bringing into question the reason for setting an earlier deadline all these years.

As has been the norm in all financial years, licence renewals were always extended and this year is no different.

The current window for licences was expected to end on March 31 in line with the beginning of the new financial year in April. But the regulatory body granted the extension to May 31 for boxing stakeholders to renew their licences.

BSA boss Tsholofelo Lejaka said the decision was taken in light of the flood of applications this year.

“In Gauteng alone we have experienced a flood of applications for licences and I think this means we will have a productive year of boxing, hence we decided to extend the deadline,” he said.

This means the expiry date of licences for the last financial year will be allowed to run until the end of May.

“Yes, people who currently hold licences for the last financial year will be allowed to keep operating with them up until the end of May,” Lejaka confirmed.

Asked why BSA keeps setting a deadline only to extend it, Lejaka said he could not comment on past practices as he was not part of the regulatory body then.

“But our people have this mentality of waiting until the last minute to do something. I think this also applies in this case because like I said, it is only now that we are getting a flood of applications.”

Meanwhile, the current BSA board’s term will also expire at the end of May. The board was appointed by outgoing Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on May 24 2014 and has now completed its three-year term.

Lejeka said Mbalula’s replacement Thulas Nxesi would be briefed about the board’s term ending.

“Then it will be up to him to start the process of appointing the new one, but the processes such as nominations have not started as yet,” he said.

The incumbent board has had a quiet time in office, unlike its predecessors who were beset by challenges leading to some members resigning long before the end of their term.

Chaired by Ntambi Ravele, the board can boast a number of successes, including the hiring of Lejaka as chief executive as well as the recruitment of a chief financial officer – two positions that had been vacant for a while.

It was also during the current board’s term of office that national television returned to broadcasting boxing tournaments.