Sports MEC laces up gloves in funding beef
Eastern Cape Sports MEC Fezeka Nkomonye has intervened in the boxing development funding saga, calling for it to be resolved amicably.
Nkomonye was reacting to the failure of all but one promoter to qualify for funding after Boxing SA invited applications for funds.
The funding, which has been marred by controversy, was discontinued for seven years after some promoters took the department to court over the distribution of the funds.
After several engagements with provincial promoters, with Nkomonye playing a leading role in its reinstatement, the funding was finally brought back, with Boxing SA handed the task of administering it.
The country’s boxing regulatory body invited applications from provincial promoters amid stringent terms of qualification but only one was successful and 11 others failed.
Six tournaments were targeted to be held in certain Eastern Cape regions to develop boxing in remote areas, with the requirements including the featuring of women’s bouts in each event.
BSA is now trying to determine the next step as the R1m funding must be used before the end of March.
It had said previously it would
make a statement when a solution was found. Nkomonye has also pleaded with the aggrieved promoters to find common ground.
“BSA developed terms of reference guided by the Public Finance Management Act [PFMA] and its policy and this process was independent of the department,” Nkomonye said.
She said BSA was yet to write to the department regarding the way forward.
“The department is calling on all the stakeholders to return to the discussion table so that we can resolve this amicably.
“The public spat is not going to solve the challenges facing the sector.”
Nkomonye could not say whether the funds would be returned to the department if they had not been distributed before the new financial year, which starts on April 1.
“Let’s put emotions aside and allow the legal process between BSA, the department and Treasury to unfold, and resolve this matter urgently.”
Successful promoter Last Born Promotions, which applied to organise a tournament in Amathole, has not yet revealed the date of the tournament.
Other regions BSA had allocated tournaments to were Nelson Mandela Bay, Alfred Nzo and Sarah Baartman, with a show in each, while two were allocated to the Buffalo City metro.