Boxing SA loses CEO as Lejaka resigns early
Boxing SA is without a CEO after Tsholofelo Lejaka’s resignation on Monday.
Lejaka’s five-year term was to end in 2021, but BSA chair Peter Ngatane declined to comment on whether the regulatory body was now operating without a CEO.
But BSA senior board member Khulile Radu said: ‘Yes‚ Lejaka wrote to us on Monday informing us about his departure and explained why he was leaving.
“Every board member has a copy of his letter.
“The man has potential to do bigger things and we can’t hold him back.
“It is just unfortunate that he had to leave at this point.”
In his response‚ Lejaka borrowed from the Bard.
“As William Shakespeare once acclaimed in his play Romeo and Juliet‚ ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’‚” he said.
“The pain of leaving a sector you’ve been an integral part of for years will naturally hurt.
“However‚ knowing that you are leaving without any acrimony or bad blood is also comforting because whenever you reunite with old friends and colleagues it will always be a huge celebration, with lots of the fond memories to reminisce about.
“The reunion time will surely come but unfortunately for now‚ it’s time for parting.”
Lejaka‚ from Thaba Nchu in the Free State‚ was announced as the CEO in 2016 by then sports minister Fikile Mbalula. None of the CEOs before him — Mava Malla‚ Dumile Mateza‚ Krish Naidoo‚ Bongani Khumalo and Moffatt Qithi — finished their five-year terms of office.
They either jumped ship or were pushed.
Lekaja did not reveal the reasons behind his decision to leave a year ahead of his scheduled exit.
SA boxing was on its knees and regarded as a lost cause before his appointment in 2016, as there were transgressions aplenty‚ including allegations of maladministration and corruption. But Lejaka quickly knocked the sport into shape barely three months in the seat and made his presence felt.
He made sure boxers who were owed money after fighting in tournaments got paid.
He worked under four different ministers — Mbalula‚ Thulasi Nxesi‚ Thokozile Xasa and Nathi Mthethwa.
Most of the promises he made when he became BSA CEO were honoured.
While he is leaving amid a changing and modernising in SA boxing law‚ he was at least able to finalise draft amendment regulations and get the sector to agree on urgent areas of the proposed rules.