Boxing Promoters launch scathing attack on Minister Zizi Kodwa

While addressing an online press briefing, the NPBPA have accused Kodwa of being "captured", citing the new BSA board as proof thereof.

Previously, the promoters took to the courts to challenge the legitimacy of the board appointment on the basis of a lack of consultation, and now, they allege they were not invited, with Kaya Majeke maintaining that Kodwa is “captured".

"With regards to being captured, yes, we believe he is captured. The division he has created in boxing, I can tell you – I'm not saying boxing was united [before], but we have moved from bad to worse under the demise of a delinquent minister," said Majeke.

"[The minister] has pursued his own agenda. For instance, if he is not captured, why did he disregard the report? He knew the so-called AA was suspended – on what basis did he disregard the suspension?

"So indeed, he is captured. We are not happy where we are seated and standing as boxing people."

Majeke also added that Kodwa, whose term in the Ministry is set to end along with the sixth administration in Parliament next week, consulted his groupings prior to appointing the board.

"The question that South Africans must ask themselves, together with the media and boxers – if the minister was not captured and did not come with a specific agenda of swaying the boxing community towards a certain objective not understood by the NPBPA, why did he fail to consult us?

"Why did he consult certain groupings instead of consulting, as per the 2001 Boxing Act – it's outlined there in terms of who should be consulted? Why did he disregard the previous board's report in terms of the fiduciary role?"

Meanwhile, NPBPA chairperson Ayanda Matiti again clarified why they are not interdicting this board but instead taking Kodwa to court.

"The mistake some make is to think when people want to box and be in the ring, they are agreeing with the administrative action the minister took," noted Matiti.

"We are saying, in the context of the recourse available to us, the first recourse would be to interdict the board from doing its work, run to court, say we were not consulted, the merits are the same, etc.

"We are not doing that, we're not interdicting this board. We are taking the fight away from the boxing space, we are taking the fight between us [NPBPA] and the minister into the court of law.

"We are taking the fight away from how it has affected promoters, boxers, trainers, and managers. We are still guided by the very same principle of consultation – I can't pre-empt how and when that process will be finalised because it's a court process."

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