Boxing chief on carpet for hiding convictions
BOXING SA’s (BSA) chief executive is to face disciplinary action after allegations surfaced that he had a criminal record which he had failed to disclose during the job application process.
Moffat Qithi yesterday declined to comment on a claim that he had two convictions when he was awarded the post — now paying more than R1million a year — in 2011.
Qithi was sentenced to an R800 fine or eight months’ imprisonment by an East London court in 1995 “for receiving stolen property”, according to a document seen by the Sunday Times.
He was also fined R1 000 for driving under the influence in Port Shepstone in March 2006.
BSA, the body in charge of professional boxing, is governed by the Boxing Act which stipulates that the CEO — who must be appointed in consultation with the ministers of sport and finance — cannot have “been convicted of any offence involving dishonesty”.
Spokesman for sport minister Fikile Mbalula, Paena Galane, said: “Mr Qithi did not disclose to the BSA board . . . to anyone about his convictions. He misled not only BSA, but the two ministers.”
BSA had hired a recruitment agency to find a CEO, but Galane added that Mbalula was also angry with his own departmental staff. “All the parties have a case to answer to . . . He (Qithi) has to face disciplinary action.”
Qithi has been criticised for frequently being out of the office and not attending boxing tournaments.
But he has previously countered that he did not need to be at his desk nor at ringside to perform his duties.
BSA has received qualified audits for several years, but Qithi is said to have improved the organisation’s accounting systems, reportedly resulting in its first clean audit for the year ending March 31.
Meanwhile AIBA, the world governing body for amateur boxing — or open boxing as they call it now since introducing payments for fighters — appears to be on a collision course with the SA government.
AIBA is unhappy with proposed legislation to govern SA amateur boxing.
Qithi did not disclose to the BSA board his convictions. He misled not only BSA, but the two ministers
AIBA this week told the SA National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) it could not attend the Gauteng boxing indaba in Johannesburg, which ended yesterday.
On the agenda was the draft Combat Bill which will regulate all combat sports, including amateur boxing.
“Any government interference in Sanabo is contrary to both the AIBA statutes and the Olympic Charter,” AIBA executive director Ho Kim said in a letter to Sanabo.
“The proposals submitted for discussion at the boxing indaba appear to aim to put the governance of boxing in South Africa under government control.”
AIBA last month suspended Sanabo over claims of interference by the SA Olympic Committee (Sascoc) at the body’s elections.
It has ordered Sanabo to hold a new poll.
“In no circumstances should Sascoc be involved in the election process,” added Kim.