Boxers go hungry while Kodwa digs in
No-one needs to remind him that taxpayers will be the ones to foot the bill
The unprecedented inactivity in SA boxing due to the legal impasse between promoters and sports minister Zizi Kodwa is a bitter blow for the struggling sport, threatening to undermine its future prosperity.
Egos are at play and the ones who are paying the price are the boxers, who find themselves unable to make a living.
Kodwa’s conduct is particularly disheartening.
Calls on the minister to resolve the debacle have seemingly fallen on deaf ears and he maintains a steadfast silence, except when he has to respond to action taken by the promoters.
The National Professional Boxing Promoters’ Association successfully challenged Kodwa in court when he appointed a new Boxing SA board without consulting them, as required by the Boxing Act.
This led to the new board, which was scheduled to begin its three-year term in December, being laid off.
It plunged the sport into crisis, as all subcommittees responsible for facilitating boxing activity ceased to exist.
In a series of skirmishes, promoters even wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa, National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe MapisaNqakula and parliament’s sports, arts and culture chair Beauty Dlulane to complain about Kodwa’s conduct.
It would be unwise to rush to judgment on the merits of the dispute, but Kodwa’s demeanour has not helped to quell the rising panic in the boxing fraternity.
Not once has the minister held a media briefing to explain or give hope to the boxing community that their sport is not in danger of imploding.
He seems to forget that besides being governed by an act of parliament, boxing serves as source of income for thousands of families in the Eastern Cape and elsewhere in SA.
When there are no tournaments, many people go hungry, especially in these tough economic times.
Kodwa was alerted by the promoters long before they sought court intervention of their intention to challenge his board appointment if he did not engage with them.
Like a proud boxer going to a crucial bout without preparing properly, he ignored the warning.
Boxing stakeholders have been urging him to appoint an interim board to unlock activity, but again these calls have been met by stony silence.
Instead, reports have surfaced that Kodwa is mobilising his own legal team to fight the challenge.
No-one needs to remind him that taxpayers will be the ones to foot the bill taxpayers who unfortunately include the boxers who are suffering because they are unable to fight.