Tsholofelo Lejaka aims to restore respect and trust in Boxing SA
Lejaka said events like these help provide an income for rising boxing stars in South Africa.
The event will be organised by Aquila Boxing Promotions, with IBO Bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena giving his gloves a rest as he turns to promoting on Saturday.
Lejaka was speaking in Johannesburg on Tuesday, ahead of the ' Fistic Havoc ' boxing event headlined by Boyd Allen in his ABI All Africa Title fight against Botswana's Kagiso Bagwasi this weekend in Sandton.
Newly-appointed Boxing South Africa (BSA) CEO, Tsholofelo Lejaka , has outlined an ambitious roadmap for the future of the sport in South Africa, with the chief aim being restoring respect in the organisation.
The Drive to Restore Confidence in South African Boxing
'Boxing is ultimately about competition,' Lejaka told IOL in an exclusive interview.
'We can do all that we do in the office, administration, governance and regulatory activities but this is an opportunity for boxers to earn a living. This is an opportunity for our fans to get to see the type of product we are about. This is an opportunity for us to onboard our sponsors and give them mileage for the money they put into the sport.
'Thanks to SuperSport's continued support, we're taking live boxing into homes across the country.'
Restoring confidence in SA boxing, however, remained the biggest challenge and goal for Lejaka.
'I want to see the sport of boxing being respected and being trusted. You know it's not a nice thing when people say hey but with you guys I'm not sure if you are a bankable sport because just now things can go south again.
'So that's what I want to see in terms of measurable and tangible things. I want to see us having onboarded sponsors that have been confident enough to brand associate with us because they know that this sport if you associate with it is not going to be embarrassing you any time soon by having negativity again.'
Lejaka praised South African world champion Kevin Lerena, who currently holds the WBC bridge-weight title, for his professionalism both in and out of the ring.
'Kevin's story is one many can emulate. He's planning smartly for life beyond boxing and has a strong support structure, including his wife Geraldine, who plays an active role in promoting his career. He embodies what we want from our champions,' Lejaka said.
With Lejaka reappointed to the role last week, which he held from 2016 to 2020, he said implementing resolutions from the 2025 Boxing Convention held in February would be his first order of business.
'There's a lot of work that has been spelled out by that convention which we need to prioritise.
'We need to address the financial plight of Boxing South Africa. One by collecting money that is owed to Boxing South Africa. Two by ensuring that Boxing South Africa spends prudently. Three by onboarding new sponsors for Boxing South Africa, what we call revenue generation.'
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
34 minutes ago
- IOL News
'I can't save him,' says Gavin Hunt as bad boy Mahlambi pops up at Durban City
Phakamani Mahlambi (left) and Coach Gavin Hunt (right) during their last stint together at Chippa United. Image: BACKPAGEPIX Phakamani Mahlambi has resurfaced in the Betway Premiership, with Durban City FC handing the troubled forward a trial as he looks to rescue a career that once promised to light up South African football. The 27-year-old has been without a club for nearly four years, his last top-flight appearance coming in September 2021 for Chippa United. That outing — a second-half cameo in a 2-1 defeat to Stellenbosch FC — ended with a torn Achilles tendon, cutting short his season and sparking a long spell on the sidelines. For Mahlambi, whose raw pace and flair once made him the country's most exciting young attacker, the fall from grace has been steep. His professional debut came under Gavin Hunt at Bidvest Wits in the 2015/16 season, and within two years, he was securing a dream move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly. But his time in North Africa lasted just one season before returning home to join Mamelodi Sundowns. I respect Coach Gavin Hunt for a lot of things, but I respect him more for what he has done for Phakamani Mahlambi. I saw today that Phaka is being assessed by the Technical Team at Durban City FC, even if he doesn't make it but I know even himself deep down he'll know that Coach… — MIGUEL'S_BÔL (@KM_Khanyee) August 14, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Game time was scarce at Chloorkop, leading to a loan move to Chippa United in 2021 — where he linked up again with Hunt. Injuries, discipline issues, and inconsistency meant that momentum was never sustained. He nearly reunited with Hunt a third time at SuperSport United after a trial stint but never signed. Now, the pair find themselves together again at newly promoted Durban City, with the coach offering him a final platform to prove his worth. 'I can't revive him, he's got to revive himself, I can only give him the platform,' Hunt said after Durban City's 1-0 win over Chippa United at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday. 'He's like any football player — I give the platform, the opportunity, but he's young. I mean, he was the brightest talent in South Africa, wasn't he? "Talent alone is NOT good enough...!!!" So what happened with Phakamani Mahlambi @Masandawana?? Coach @coach_rulani breaks it down on #MarawaMoments Full interview: — robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) November 24, 2020
The South African
34 minutes ago
- The South African
Correctional Services launches prison BAKERIES to save costs
Correctional Services Minister Dr. Pieter Groenewald has announced the continued expansion of the department's inmate-run bakery programme, aimed at reducing outsourcing costs and promoting self-sustainability within South African correctional facilities. Speaking at the launch of a new bakery at Westville Prison in Durban, Groenewald said the initiative has already saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of rands and will continue to grow as part of broader cost-cutting and rehabilitation efforts. 'This bakery alone will save R3 million annually for the taxpayer. Across all self-sufficiency projects last year, we saved nearly R500 million,' Groenewald said. To date, 13 bakeries have been rolled out across various prisons, with plans to expand further. At Westville, 50 inmates work in shifts to produce more than 3 800 loaves of bread daily, at a cost of R8 per loaf – significantly lower than the R23 per loaf paid to private service providers. Beyond cost savings, Groenewald highlighted the rehabilitative impact of the programme, with inmates gaining valuable skills to aid reintegration into society post-incarceration. Mlindeni Xaba, one of the inmates working in the Westville bakery, expressed gratitude for the opportunity. 'I'm thankful to the officials who helped us make better choices. Now I have the skills to open a business once I'm released and support my family,' Xaba said. The bakery programme forms part of a wider self-sufficiency strategy that includes vegetable farming, abattoirs, and tree nurseries within correctional facilities. Groenewald noted the significance of these projects amid rising operational costs and a budget reduction of R11.7 billion over the past five years. 'We'll continue enhancing self-sufficiency to lessen reliance on the state and ensure inmates leave with real skills,' he said. The Department of Correctional Services plans to scale these efforts further, with long-term goals of fully internalising food production and expanding vocational training opportunities for inmates. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Shopping just became a lifestyle experience: The next-generation store set to change how we shop
Woolworths' newly renovated Tygervalley store is revolutionising the shopping experience in South Africa, with an immersive lifestyle approach. South African retail is entering a new era, with brick-and-mortar stores reinventing themselves to win back shoppers lured by the ease of online retail. Leading the charge is Woolworths, which has unveiled its extensively renovated Tygervalley store in Cape Town, a next-generation space designed to make in-person shopping not just convenient, but an experience worth leaving home for. After months of anticipation, the store has officially reopened its doors, revealing a new full-line store format that integrates Food, Fashion, Beauty and Home under one roof. This is the first of its kind in the country, and it's designed to tempt customers away from their screens and back into the mall. Brian Mtongaana, Executive Creative Director at Woolworths, explained that the store's creative design is centred on 'human connection and super service'- a 'frame for living' philosophy that brings lifestyle, service and experience together in a single space.
