Question NW4081 to the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture
22 December 2023 - NW4081
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture
(1). With reference to the failure of a certain person (name and details furnished) to pay a certain person (name also furnished) money that is owed to him despite promising to do so, (a) how is it possible that the specified person remains an executive committee member of the National Professional Promoters Association and (b) what example is set by the situation; (2). with reference to the announced compulsory training for licensees that was announced by Boxing South Africa (BSA) at very short notice earlier this year, leading to many licences’ being unable to attend the initial and/or the second, cancelled round of training leading to licensees now being refused licenses, how can BSA cancel training and then penalise licensees; 3(a). how were the trainers selected since neither of the trainers have ever acted as a ring official in a professional bout (details furnished) and (b) what are the reasons that the process did not go out to tender?
Reply:
The response to question from Boxing SA is as follows:
(1). Most promoters owe Boxing South Africa due to the income declarations that are made after tournaments through affidavits in terms of the Boxing Regulations. All promoters who owe Boxing South Africa are subject to this arrangement and therefore none of the debts by the promoters have prescribed, hence Boxing SA is not able to take any action based on this arrangement.
(a). The National Professional Boxing Promoter Associations is an independent structure of licensed promoters established in terms of section 28 of the Boxing Act.
This structure operates on its own constitution, and it held elections of its leadership, and all the office bearers were duly elected in an open and transparent process. It is not for BSA to dictate who are supposed to be the leaders of the structure. As far as the question around the boxer is concerned, it must be noted that contracts between Promoters and Boxers are concluded without the intervention of Boxing South Africa and so are disputes arising therefrom.
(b). The Board resolved to establish a sub-committee that looks at the tournament applications of each promoter and each promoter that is owing Boxing South Africa appears before the committee to commit to some arrangement in terms of which the debt can be settled and once this arrangement is in place the promoter is then allowed to stage tournaments subject to payment arrangements as approved by this committee.
(2). Boxing SA responded as follows: It would amount to fallacy to hold the view that Boxing South Africa penalises licensees upon postponement of its programmes. Boxing South Africa held its second phase training timeously and those who were successful in the assessments have been duly licensed.
(3)(a&b). The Board established a committee in terms of section 7 of the Boxing Act and this committee was established based on experience and therefore there was no need for
the training to be outsourced.