The country’s best youth and elite boxers descended on the Mother City for four days of no-nonsense action at the South African National Boxing Organisation’s (SANABO) national championships at the Western Cape Sport School, in Kuils River. By Saturday’s finals, every punch carried a little more weight than just a place on the podium as fighters battled for national titles, provincial pride, and the right to call themselves South Africa’s best.
Between rounds, coaches barked instructions and offered words of encouragement from the corner while referees and judges watched every exchange with an eagle eye. The action wasn’t confined to the ring as the crowd kept the energy high with songs, dancing, and deafening cheers for their province’s fighters.
South Africa’s newest boxing champions didn’t just leave with medals around their necks. According to SANABO vice-president Lwandiso Kwababana, they also walked away with something far more valuable — proof that every hour spent in the ring is one less spent on the streets.
“It’s good for us to have these sorts of championships because it’s a yardstick to measure every athlete that we have for boxing in South Africa, to make sure that they have what it takes to participate at the next level, which could be any continental championship in Africa and on the world stages,” he said.
But, he said, the championships are about more than titles and medals. The aim is to channel the energy and anger of young people into something positive rather than letting it spill onto the streets.
“We are using sport to build a better person,” he said.
“We boast a high number of boxers, which means a high number of people involved in organised sport.”
The city, he said, was a fitting host for the national championships as it is home to several accomplished fighters, including former world champion Mzonke “The Rose of Khayelitsha” Fana.
“Cape Town holds one of the highest numbers of competitors when it comes to open boxing.
“More importantly, the youth of Cape Town have something to be proud of because many people from other provinces didn’t know that young boxers from Cape Town could compete with them and give them a run for their money.”
Away from the action in the ring, Kwababana also highlighted the role of sponsors in making the championships possible.
“It is very important for the private sector to come to the party,” he said, thanking stakeholders and partners for their support.
“It’s good to see the private sector and government join hands with us to ensure that our communities are taken care of, so thumbs up to that partnership.”
Fuad Esack
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