Kodwa welcomes high court ruling dismissing application by boxing promoters

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday delivered a judgment dismissing with costs the NPBPA’s application based on lack of legal standing.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has welcomed the high court judgment which threw out an application of the National Professional Boxing Promoters’ Association (NPBPA) to declare that the appointment of the Boxing South Africa (BSA) Accounting Authority is irregular and invalid.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday delivered a judgment dismissing with costs the NPBPA’s application based on lack of legal standing.

According to the SABC, the application was also seeking an order to stop BSA from sanctioning boxing tournaments until a legitimate board was appointed.

In December, the promoters successfully interdicted the BSA board appointed by Kodwa. The Minister then appointed Mandla Ntlanganiso in February as the Acting CEO and Accounting Authority, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, to temporarily replace the board.

Tuesday’s ruling means Ntlanganiso will remain in his position until May 2024, when a full-time board will be appointed.

“The judgement marks a salutary corrective measure on the path to restoring stability and ethical governance at Boxing SA. For too long, Boxing SA has been bleeding as an institution, with athletes losing match time, and promoters and trainers losing their market share,” Kodwa said on Wednesday. 

The Minister believes the court’s decision is an opportunity for all stakeholders in South African boxing to link and focus on the roadmap to reset and revitalise the sport in the country. 

“I have repeatedly said that let’s box in the ring and not in the courts.”

“Let us focus, engage, and work together to build this sporting code that lies close to the hearts of millions of South Africans. Let us work together to revive South African boxing,” the Minister pleaded.

Reports state that the NPBPA was ordered to pay the respondents’ costs, including those of the Ministers of Sport, Arts and Culture and Finance, BSA, and Ntlanganiso.

They were also ordered to pay the costs of two counsels, including the Senior Counsel. 

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)