Question NW3787 to the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE
03 January 2024 - NW3787
Joseph, Mr D to ask the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE
(1). Whether, in light of the fact that Boxing South Africa board (BSA) was taken to court by a promoter based in Kwazulu-Natal (name and details furnished), he has found that the attack on the judiciary by a certain official (name furnished) was justified; if not, what (a) is the position in this regard and (b) action will he take against the official for his unjustified attack on the judiciary; if so, what are the further relevant details, (2). what are the reasons that the bsa did not appeal the judgement as stated by the specified official?
Reply:
1(a). Boxing South Africa indicated that they are of the view that the CEO’s comments did not constitute an attack on the judiciary. Boxing SA is of the view that the CEO’s comments around the fact that there was no compliance with the regulations is factually and legally correct. The CEO stated in the same article that BSA respects the law therefore the allegation that he attacked the judiciary is incorrect.
Boxing SA further indicated that the South African Boxing Act, Act 11 of 2001 and the Boxing Regulations provide clarity in terms of processes and procedures used in the administration of boxing in the country. Thus, the Act and Boxing Regulations sets out various legal requirements that must be met by a promoter intending to stage a tournament.
The legal requirements are referred to as compliances within Boxing SA and no tournament can be staged without satisfying these requirements and the Sanctioning Committee, an independent body which approves tournaments checks applications for compliance. BSA indicates that these requirements had not been met by the
complainant. Amongst the requirements to be met before a tournament can be sanctioned or approved are the following:
- Payment of purse monies of boxers and officials at least fourteen days
- before a tournament.
- Medical tests to be conducted on the participating boxers.
- The Weigh-in to determine whether the boxers are evenly matched.
b). Given the above response, no need for action to be taken against the CEO has been identified.
(2). Boxing South Africa has indicated that Ms. Nomfundo Malinga instituted an application in the Pretoria High Court. The Application was in two parts:
Part A which was an urgent application to temporarily set aside her suspension pending the review of the Board’s decision to suspend her promoter’s licence.
Part B: To challenge BSA’s decision not to sanction the planned boxing tournament due to non-compliance with BSA regulations. There is nothing to appeal as the tournament did not take place and the suspension of the promoter’s license has been temporarily withdrawn pending the hearing.