Culture and Recreation, Barbara Creecy
28 February 2007
On behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government and the people of Gauteng, I
would like to join the members of the boxing fraternity in paying tribute to
this fallen son of the soil.
The Gauteng government acknowledges the role that Bab'uMthembu played in
promoting boxing in our communities during the dark days of apartheid.
Today, the people of South Africa and the international community at large
are aware of the existence of the Dube Boxing Club and the critical role that
the club, through Bab'uMthembu, played to advance the love of the game and to
popularise the sport amongst our communities. Bab'uMthembu undoubtedly used
sport as a nation building tool to set up boxing programmes, starting with
young people from his own community, hence the adage "charity begins at
home".
We will always remember him for producing provincial and national champions,
some of whom are now making an indelible mark in the lives of our people.
Gauteng prides itself with the products of this 'father of boxing' and
acknowledges his immense contribution to boxing that put Gauteng on the map in
South Africa and abroad.
Today, our young people are able to identify with boxing because of the role
models such as the four times world champion in two different divisions, Jacob
'Baby Jake' Matlala, junior and lightweight champion Anthony "Blue Jaguar"
Morodi and South African featherweight champion Levy "Golden Boy" Madi, Alfred
"Kid Bassie" Buqwana and Dr Peter Ngatane who is now an official of boxing,
amongst others.
Gauteng and the country at large are poorer for losing a man of
Bab'uMthembus' calibre.
I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the Mthembu family and
members of the boxing fraternity. I hope that we will derive solace from the
realisation that this great man served the community and the nation with
distinction and that his contribution was recognised even when he was still
alive.
For more information contact:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 8068
Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
28 February 2007
