Optimism, but boxing faces huge challenges

BOXING SA chairperson Muditambi Ravele sees a very healthy future for the sport.

“I don’t know whether it is just me or it is simply because I am this optimistic person by nature,” she told Sunday Times this week.

However, Ravele acknowledged facing serious challenges, especially from the Eastern Cape Promoters Association which advised individual members of her board to resign or face removal.

BSA has been under severe strain since the suspension in 2013 of chief executive Moffat Qithi in September 2013.

Said Ravele this week: “That case is still going on. The disciplinary committee will resume dealing with it next week.”

Qithi’s successor, Loyiso Mtya, was himself suspended indefinitely by the board in July last year after investigations linked him to corruption, maladministration and taking kickbacks.

That was after BSA driver Abram Khambule blew the whistle on Mtya, who suspended Khambule for disseminating BSA information to outsiders, including this reporter.

Khambule was found guilty as charged and was dismissed in January. Khambule had been elevated by Mtya to the position of manager (formerly known as the service provider) in Limpopo.

Mtya tendered his resignation last Monday — a day before the independent disciplinary committee appointed by BSA was to deal with his case.

A source told Sunday Times that the BSA’s board has refused to accept the resignation because he is alleged to have made serious allegations that he was victimised and that he sat on a “bomb” that would bring the entire board down.

Said Ravele: “Yes, Khambule was found guilty but I cannot say more because I still have to receive the final report from the DC.

“We have received Mtya’s letter and the board is deliberating on it.”

In October last year the board quietly suspended chief financial officer Kgosimang Mosupa. Ravele said that case was still ongoing.

She was taken aback when Sunday Times confronted her about the alleged break-in at BSA’s offices last week.

That was the third incident to happen in that office. The first happened two weeks after their arrival in Midrand in 2013, and the second when part of the office was gutted by fire late last year.

“That is true. All that happened,” she confirmed.

“We still do not know even today how all that happened. There were documents burned. When they broke into the office the first time some computers were stolen. We reported to the police. About four computers were stolen last week.”

Regarding the suggestion that BSA was relocating to the office of the Department of Sports in Pretoria, Ravele said: “I cannot confirm this one because we are looking at a lot of other options in making sure that we can secure boxing

We want to focus on the issue of training of all our licensees in their spheres of expertise

property.”

Other staff members who have since resigned at BSA are Nomsa Mdluli (secretary) and Andile Majeke (PA to Qithi).

Despite all of this, Ravele insisted that the future of South African boxing looked very bright.

“Following the sessions we had with all our licensees recently, we have follow-ups with each sector of licensees in addressing challenges facing their respective areas.

“One of the things we want to focus on is the issue of training of all our licensees in their spheres of expertise.

“If it means bringing in international expertise, we are prepared to do that. The annual awards — which have not taken place for more than two years, will be back.

“We want to revive them. They will definitely happen in the near future,” she said.