Daily Dispatch

NO HOLDING BACK THE TEARS FOR MURDERED SPORTS CHAMPION

- MADELEINE CHAPUT MadeleineC@dispatch.co.za

Emotions run high as more than 500 people pack the City Hall to pay tribute to former boxing and karate star Leighandre ’Baby Lee’ Jegels

Emotions ran high as more than 500 people packed the East London City Hall on Wednesday to pay tribute to former boxing and karate star Leighandre “Baby Lee” Jegels.

Jegels was shot and killed by her police officer boyfriend, on August 30.

The world karate and SA boxing champion was only 25 years old when she was killed.

The memorial service was organised by the ANC and the East London boxing fraternity in an effort to honour Jegels and her contributi­on to sport and to social upliftment in Buffalo City Metro and the country.

Family, friends and fans were in attendance as well as dignitarie­s including BCM speaker Alfred Mtsi.

Prominent women’s rights organisati­on Masimanyan­e also had a presence through director Dr Lesley-Ann Foster.

Jegels’s boxing colleague, Zolni Tete, and South African Boxing operations director Cindy Nkomo also paid their respects at the service.

Boxing fan Joy Greyvenste­in said losing Jegels was like losing a family member.

“She was my little idol. When she was in the ring her mother and I were the ones making the biggest noise and cheering her on. The boxing community is like one big family, we all support and love one another.

“I never missed a match at the Orient,” said a teary-eyed Greyvenste­in.

She has been a dedicated fan of the sport for 30 years.

Khoisan chief Gaokxaob Kai Anib said: “We came from PE for this. As a community we are shocked and saddened that such a strong female role model was taken from us prematurel­y. We have been robbed of her presence.”

Jegels’s family, including parents, aunts, uncles and her 93year-old grandmothe­r, were too emotional to speak to the Dispatch, but were seen supporting one another.

The funeral service for Jegels will be held on Saturday at the Abbotsford Christian Centre from 11 am to 2pm.

When she was in the ring her mother and I were making the most noise

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 ?? Picture: MARK ANDREWS ?? BEREFT: Annie King, grandmothe­r of boxing and karate champ Leighandre 'Baby Lee' Jegels, was inconsolab­le at the memorial service in East London.
Picture: MARK ANDREWS BEREFT: Annie King, grandmothe­r of boxing and karate champ Leighandre 'Baby Lee' Jegels, was inconsolab­le at the memorial service in East London.

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