Hon Speaker and hon members, the tragic passing of Phindile Mwelase, which was a devastating loss to the sporting and boxing community, brings to the fore one of the vexing questions and challenges confronting our boxing management. It highlights the welfare of boxers in South Africa.
In many instances boxers die poor, with their families unable to support and sustain themselves. Mwelase, reported as being a breadwinner, is said to have signed a contract for a meagre R4 000 for this fight. This remuneration would not have been sufficient for her at any stage of her life.
The hon Minister of Sport should empower the Ministry and the department to make decisive and timely interventions in bringing stability in the management and administration of boxing in our country. All the good plans with their good intentions, like partnerships between Boxing SA and so on, whose purpose is to train boxers and ring officials in life skills to ensure that boxers understand the importance of attending these life programmes are not being put into effect.
Boxing South Africa continues to be haunted by an unstable board, with members resigning and then taking a long time to replace them. Currently Boxing SA has no less than three board members who have recently resigned, and has no chief executive officer. This situation compromises sport, the athletes and the country in general.
In other sporting codes, athletes are insured. Some are marketable and become the face of various products from the provider sectors. This is something we last heard of from the era of the late Baby Jakes Matlala in South Africa. We implore the hon Minister and the department to create an environment in which there is stability in Boxing SA. There should be enthusiasm in the sport among board members as well as current and potential athletes. I thank you. [Applause.]