Question NW3975 to the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture
22 December 2023 - NW3975
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture
(1). Whether he can furnish Mr T W Mhlongo with any good reasons why the entire board of Boxing SA (BSA) should not be suspended with immediate effect, given that recent notices served on licensees of BSA to appear at disciplinary hearings in August of 2023 has seen the licensees incorrectly charged as officials of BSA and not as licensees (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2). whether he is able to furnish a (a) clearly defined timeline and (b) date of when the matter of a certain person (name furnished) will be resolved; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3). what are the reasons that (a) a certain person (name furnished), who has been a boxing promoter for over 15 years, is still unable to promote a tournament without receiving government funding since promoting boxing is a business and (b) his department, and essentially taxpayers, must finance the businesses of a certain select group of boxing promoters; (4). what are the reasons that some of the promoters who are continually assisted by the Government financially are the promoters who do not adhere to the Boxing Act, Act 11 of 2001, and who pay some of the lowest purses?
Reply:
(1). The Minister announced the appointment of the new board on Tuesday, 28 November 2023. The new board assumed it’s duties on 12 December 2023 whilst the erstwhile board concluded its term on Monday, 11 December 2023. The new board has a responsibility to review all outstanding legal and disciplinary matters not concluded by the previous board before the end of the financial year 2023/2024 ending in March 2023
(2)(a). The Qithi matter has been settled.
(3)(a&b). Provincial Departments are at liberty to implement sport programmes that benefit their athletes and communities. However, Boxing and all National Federations must get to a point where they run with limited support from government, this requires corporate investment. To this end, BSA has committed to developing a funding model for the sector. BSA is expected to provide details of this strategy (operating model) with due dates. This will be shared with Parliament as soon as BSA provides these, a timeline of 31 March 2024 has been set for this plan.
(4). BSA cannot interfere with contracts between promoters and the boxers. However, BSA will investigate the possibility of establishing minimum purse monies for specified bouts to ensure that there is no exploitation of boxers. There is a need to ensure that there is profitable business model for the sport of boxing, and this is part of the turnaround strategy that BSA is already implementing.