×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

'Nice-guy' boxing boss ready to jab

NEW BROOM: Newly appointed Boxing SA chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka. PHOTO: TSHEKO KABASIA
NEW BROOM: Newly appointed Boxing SA chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka. PHOTO: TSHEKO KABASIA

Placing the right people in the right positions with the right training is the step Boxing SA's newly-appointed chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka wants to take.

The 40-year-old administrator admitted he had little knowledge of boxing - although his father was an amateur boxer.

Lejaka's passion is for long-distance running and he will be tackling his fourth Comrades Marathon on Sunday.

"Quite honestly, I have never been in the ring, but growing up in the 80s we would wake up around 3am to watch boxing - epic battles between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, among others," he told Sowetan this week.

"In the past six or seven years I have been drawing a salary from being a public servant in the sports and recreation [department]."

He has a long history with Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, the man who elevated him to the fistics hot seat last Friday.

Lejaka is serving his final days as chief director, corporate service, in the sport and recreation department in Pretoria.

Lejaka, who hails from Thaba Nchu in Free State, served as chief of staff when Mbalula was deputy minister of police.

"I see my appointment as my opportunity to contribute to the betterment of the sport," said Lejaka, who will assume his new role on June 1. "I've got no illusion that it is going to be easy," he said.

"The trick will be to hold hands with seasoned stakeholders and role players," said Lejaka, who holds a Bachelor of Arts and Fine Arts degree from the University of North West.

"I love it now because people say Tsholofelo is a nice guy. But pretty soon you will hear other stories because I will shake the tree and some rotten apples will fall.

"Remember, people don't respect you for what you say but what you deliver. People with positive energy will come on board."

 

Last week Mbalula boasted that he was "giving boxing the best", a remark Lejaka interpreted as the minister's "objective observation from my approach to work".

Regarding flagrant disregard of rules such as promoters failing to deposit purse monies for boxers at least 30 days prior to their event, as per regulations, he said: "We have to make unpopular decisions which in the immediate might be seen as hostile but in the long run, they will usher a culture that protects the boxer and promote their interest.

"We cannot allow what has happened [promoters not paying boxers their purses] to continue, never."

As a parting shot, Lejaka said: "I am the CEO who wants to deliver a clean audit and make sure that when a boxer walks in a public space, he commands the same appeal that is commanded by football, rugby and cricket luminaries.

"The board of BSA is supportive and the minister is resolute."

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.