Sports MEC gives training equipment to struggling KZN boxing gyms
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms Hlengiwe Mavimbela, has today, Saturday, 27 March 2021, handed over boxing equipment to 15 struggling boxing gyms from across the Province at Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The equipment was procured by the Department of Sport and Recreation following a random inspection of boxing gyms, which revealed that the majority were in a poor state, without proper infrastructure and lacked basic training equipment.
Equipment handed over include head guards, boxing gloves, breast protectors, groin protectors, bandages, gum shields, hand pads, sparring gloves, boxing shorts, boxing vests, punching bags, skipping ropes as well as hook and jab sets.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, MEC Mavimbela, said boxing is one of the priority sports that should be promoted including karate, following an instruction from Premier Sihle Zikalala, at the beginning of the current term of office.
“We conducted an inspection of the status of boxing gyms in the Province and the picture we got was not pleasing. Most of the clubs do not have proper training facilities, they do not have equipment. That is why we decided to assist by procuring the equipment for them. We will also be working with Municipalities to avail facilities like community halls for sports like boxing to utilise,” said MEC Mavimbela.
“We are a department with the smallest budget in the Province but we have a huge responsibility to go into all corners of KwaZulu-Natal to change the lives of the people, keep our communities fit to avoid diseases, and our youth away from substance abuse. This means we have to be innovative, including using existing facilities like libraries and community halls for sports activities.”
MEC Mavimbela also paid tribute to late boxing promoter Thulani Magudulela who died last month due to Covid-19 related complications.
Also present at the ceremony were boxing legends Elijah “Tap Tap” Makhathini and Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga, who thanked the Department for supporting the revival of boxing in the Province.
“We want to thank God for giving us this opportunity to utilise our experience to give back to young people. But the challenge is that we do not have infrastructure to train boxers. I have training equipment like the training ring and punching bags at my garage at home that I got from sponsors but I cannot put it at the hall that is also used by the community,” said Malinga.
The breakdown of beneficiaries per district is as follows: uThukela District x 4, Zululand x 1, Ilembe x 2, eThekwini x 4, King Cetshwayo District x 2, uMgungundlovu x 1 and Amajuba x 1.