Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Khumalo could find himself looking for another job after his failure to stamp his authority as chief executive of Boxing SA.

Shockingly, Khumalo was not aware that purse monies for the boxers in last Friday's tournament in Secunda were deposited on Thursday - the day of the weigh-in.

Purse monies are supposed to be deposited into Boxing SA's account 14 days prior to the tournament.

"I was not aware of the alleged late payment. I only heard about it on Monday and I have written a letter to both Loyiso Mtya and Nomsa [Mdluli] for explanation," he said.

Mdluli is in charge of the administration of tournaments, while Mtya is director of operations.

Sources revealed that fight purses have been deposited late for quite a while, with promoter S'Phatho Handi getting publicity recently for failing to abide by the rule.

Apparently Khumalo called off Handi's tournament but Handi's friend, Mtya, went ahead and conducted the weigh-in. He had lied even before that ceremony that Handi had deposited purse monies in Boxing SA's account.

That tournament at Orient Theatre dented South Africa's reputation in the boxing world after boxers from Argentina refused to fight because they had not been paid.

The tournament had to be postponed until the next day but even then only the foreign fighters were paid.

Local fighters had to wait almost two weeks before getting their money.

Meanwhile Khumalo announced that Jared Lovett's hearing, as well as the one involving Ali Funeka and his manager Sihle Mnguni, were postponed until April 6 and 17, respectively.

Lovett is accused of bringing boxing into disrepute. He allegedly attacked participants in an amateur tournament without provocation, and insulted them and the organisers at Booysens Boxing Club last week.

Funeka went to fight Nate Campbell in the US without a clearance from Boxing SA.

Mnguni, Funeka's manager, remained behind in Mdantsane while his brother, Mzimase Mnguni, headed the delegation.