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Top boxing promoter suspended for not paying purses

The boxing promoter’s license of Andile Sidinile‚ who trades under Sijuta Promotion‚ has been suspended for failing to pay purse money until March 31‚ Boxing South Africa chief executive Tsholofelo Lejaka announced on Wednesday.

Sijuta was also ordered to pay costs of the disciplinary proceedings. As per boxing regulations‚ the East London-based promotion company will also be liable to pay interest on the principal amount – about R600 000 – from the time the failure starts at the rate of prime plus two percent per annum.

“He will be relicensed only until he has rescinded the judgement against himm” Lejaka said.

“The burden to prove that he is a changed man is upon him. Every time he applies for his licence‚ the finding will render him unsuitable to be relicensed.”

This because the independent disciplinary committee ordered that the judgement go in Sidinile’s record.

Sidinile‚ from East London‚ failed to meet a February 15 deadline to pay outstanding purse money for Simpiwe “V12” Vetyeka‚ Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni and Luzuko Siyo – about R600 000 in total.

The three fought in Sijuta's tournament at Orient Theatre in East London on April 22 last year.

Sidinile‚ however‚ paid two Japanese and a Tanzanian boxers because foreign fighters are paid in hard cash. Some other locals were also paid.

The tournament went ahead without purses being deposited with BSA and that was in breach of the Boxing Act of 2001. The Act stipulates that a promoter must deposit purse money with BSA not later than 30 days prior to the tournament‚ or any other date specified by BSA.

Sidinile attended the disciplinary hearing in December and pleaded innocent but was found guilty on all five charges due to overwhelming evidence placed before the disciplinary committee.

Lejaka said Sidinile failed to: “Submit a statement under oath within seven days of staging the tournament setting out the income derived from the tournament as required by the South African Boxing Act and Regulations.

“Sidinile repeatedly made false and misleading statements or promises that his company would make payment of the purse money to BSA on or before the tournament.”

Sidinile refused to comment. BSA has already paid Vetyeka‚ Ndongeni and Siyo‚ which means that Sidinile now owes BSA.

Another promoter Siphatho Handi‚ also from East London‚ failed to pay local boxers‚ their opponents from the Philippines and officials for a tournament he staged at Mdantsane Indoor Centre in March 2015.

He was charged with alleged misconduct and Handi’s Mamali Promotions was found guilty by an independent committee. His licence was suspended for a year and he has not returned since.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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