Gyms in coronavirus hostpots won't open

No boxing gyms in areas designated by the department of health as Covid-19 hotspots will be allowed to resume training, BSA chairman Peter Ngatane has confirmed.

Boxing SA announced two weeks ago that sports minister Nathi Mthethwa gave the fraternity permission to resume training only, and CEO Tsholofelo Lejaka announced in a statement a few weeks ago that training of professional boxers would only resume tomorrow (August 1).

But Gauteng, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, East London, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban as well as some identified municipalities have been declared by the government as hotspots in terms of infection. Most of Boxing SA's gyms are located in these areas.

"Until the government says something regarding the pandemic, no boxing gym from these metros will be allowed to resume training," Ngatane said yesterday. "It is not us as Boxing SA who declared those metros as hotspots but it is the government, so we will respect the decision made by government until we are told otherwise. The government must give permission to gyms in such areas."

Asked if trainers, boxers and managers in those metros are aware of the above, Ngatane said: "They should know because that information is on our website.

"If an individual decides to open his gym and the police go to them and request the permit to resume training, only to find that they don't have it, then they must know that they will be on their own.

"Gym owners, trainers or managers must apply with BSA to have their gyms opened. They must also have appointed a compliance officer."

Boxing SA also announced a few weeks ago: "In order to ensure that each boxing gym has capacity to conduct daily screening of boxers, BSA will give each gym a single blue-tooth thermometer. There is also a detailed health questionnaire which is part of the gym inspection form, which must be filled by each member and submitted to BSA before the gym can be given permission to open."