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Boxing South Africa is broke

BOXING South Africa is bankrupt. BSA's executive board member Sakhiwo Sodo has revealed the state of the national controlling body's finances

Sodo said the estimated R5 million that was approved by then minister of sport Makhenkesi Stofile but given to BSA by current minister Fikile Mbalula went towards paying off the body's tax backlog with Sars.

BSA's debt to Sars is estimated to be around R8 million.

"The minister (Mbalula) assisted us with that money and I asked all of you to applaud him for that," said Sodo in Mdantsane.

He was speaking at a function to celebrate the momentous achievement by Noni "She Bee Stingin" Tenge.

The local wondergirl from Mooiplaas, Eastern Cape, made history when she became the first female boxer on the continent to win a world title.

She beat New Zealand's Daniella Smith the to lift the IBF welterweight belt in Brakpan last month.

Tenge, 25, is an orthodox fighter under the tutelage of accomplished trainer Boy Boy Mpulampula at Sisonke boxing gym.

Her historic fight with Smith was promoted by Branco Milenkovic.

Mbalula was at ringside and was also a distinguished guest at the celebrations on Wednesday.

Sodo, who spoke on behalf of BSA since chairperson Peter Ngatane did not attend the event in Mdantsane, surprised all and sundry when he spoke about BSA's financial woes instead of talking about Tenge's achievement.

One respected boxing licensee reacted with shock.

"Our money has been wasted yet no one from Boxing SA has bothered to inform us about this," said the licensee who asked not to be identified.

A source close to BSA revealed yesterday that the national governing body used the boxers' benevolent fund (1,5percent deducted from their purse monies) and sanctioning fees to pay staff salaries.

The news that BSA owed Sars millions emerged during the suspension on full pay of then acting CEO Loyiso Mtya. Chairperson Peter Ngatane declined to confirm or deny that Mtya had been suspended because of the massive debt to Sars.

Mtya has since returned to BSA but this time as director of operations after the national body could not find grounds to charge him.

This is the position that Mtya held before he was appointed acting chief executive after the departure of Bongani Khumalo two years ago. Mbalula recently appointed Moffat Qithi as permanent CEO.

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