Women in boxing furious at being on the ropes

Boxing SA’s chief operating officer Mandla Ntlanganiso attended the official launch of Women in Boxing’s conference in Durban on Monday.

Acting CEO Nsikayezwe Sithole confirmed this yesterday nullifying the rumour that he has taken over the day-to-day administration of boxing from Ntlanganiso.

Ntlanganiso's job description dictates that he must work hand-in-glove with the committee of Women in Boxing responsible for the conference aimed at tackling matters that affect women in boxing. 

Surprisingly, most influential women licensees did not attend the launch on Monday. It is said that women licensees from outside KwaZulu-Natal were not invited because it is alleged that women in boxing cannot afford to travel. There are programmes taking place in and around Durban. 

Big players in the promotion of fights - Joyce Kungwane, Nomfesane Nyatela and Shereen Hunter -  were also not invited to the launch but were persuaded to attend the breakfast meeting with deputy sport minister Nosicawe Mafu on Saturday morning. 

Those that attended the launch were Zandile Malinga, Mbali Zantsi, Nomvelo Magcaba-Shezi and Balungile Mazibuko.

Hunter is livid with anger for having been left out of the launch. “Why am I still holding that promoters license?” she asked angrily yesterday. 

“I called [the acting CEO] to ask why am I not invited to the launch and he said no women licensees from outside KwaZulu-Natal were invited because women in boxing cannot afford to travel. I felt insulted, how did he arrive at that conclusion?"

The successful businesswoman from Gauteng said the two events she knew regarding Durban is the All Women tournament that will take place on Friday evening and the breakfast meeting with the deputy minister.

“I was invited for the breakfast but no details were provided regarding getting there. So I did my own bookings – flight, car hire and accommodation. Sipho Mashego shared the programme and that is where I realised that there is something that is happening.

Manager Colleen McAusland said she was asked if she would be attending the breakfast. “I said yes and I was told that we will be bused to Durban and I must be at Park Station at 6am on Friday,” she said, adding that she advised to be counted out.

Her charge Smangele Hadebe defends her ABU title in Sandton tonight.

Sithole explained: “We invited two women who will be hosting Women Only tournament before the and of August and that is Mbali and Zandile for the launch. 

“Other activities during the week are a build-up to main events and that is Friday when Zandile stages her tournament and Saturday for women licensees to have breakfast with deputy minister. 

“The reason we did not invite people is beacuse our people don't have money and BSA cannot afford to accomodate all female licensees for the entire week due to limited resources. 

“We then looked at modes of transport - 11 licensees from the Eastern Cape will use Quantums and those that are from North West, Mpumalanga and Polokwane will combine with those in Gauteng and be bused from Park Station. 

“I told Shereen that if she can afford to come on Thursday she must request her travel agency to amend her ticket.”