Ladies and gentlemen, as we rise this afternoon at the official closing of the 2013 National Boxing Indaba, we re-affirm our commitment to “Galvanise the Future of Boxing for the Boxer”.
The National Boxing Indaba resolved on a number of resolutions and gave the responsibility to government and other strategic role players especially the provincial departments of sport and recreation to see to it that an implementation plan is drafted and distributed to all provinces for report back purposes and swift implementation.
For the next two months all provinces will begin a rolling report back gatherings to inform all boxing stakeholders and our people about the outcomes of this National Boxing Indaba.
The Indaba resolved that government should increased its budget and funding of the amateur/open boxing in order to identify and nurture talent that could be ready for the professional/elite boxing at higher levels.
Provincial departments of sport and recreation will in a matter of 2-3 months convene provincial MECs meeting with the of Basic Education to devise strategies for the roll-out of boxing in schools as part of the school sport programme.
MECs shall lead the revival of boxing in schools as one of their special projects including women boxing.
Women boxing will prioritise and treated as the special project of the national and provincial departments of sport and recreation. Through the provincial grants women boxing should be fully funded and enhanced.
Before the end of this year the Minister would find resource and funding to promote the grassroots boxing development. Options will be devised for this purpose including the use of provincial conditional grants and the Lottery.
As part of our commitment to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, the Ministry will lead a campaign to integrate the black emerging promoters into the mainstream of boxing economy by, among others, levelling the playing field in broadcasting rights, venue allocation, and etc.
In the same vein, the Ministry will lead a vigorous struggle to change the conditions and positioning of boxers in South Africa to reclaim and restore the dignity of the boxer through creating an enabling environment for the boxer to prosper.
The Ministry will continue with its intention to sign the Broadcasting Rights with different TV channels of the Republic of South Africa to ensure that boxing is fairly aired in all our strategic TV channels and any other medium.
We are excited that the Indaba finally agreed that the Broadcasting rights belong to Boxing South Africa (BSA) and that promoters will apply/tender for the tournament dates directly with the broadcasters and negotiate the final rights fee; and that all declarations must be submitted to Boxing South Africa by implication to government.
Government will ensure BSA to embark on a consultative process to determine and define what commercial rights and report back to all stakeholders.
By the end of February we should finalise the process of the establishment of Boxing National Association across the country.
I would like to wish a safe journey back home!
Thank you.
