THOHOYANDOU - The Limpopo Boxing Commission has finally decided to suspend Ndifelani "Terminator" Manyelenyele for failing to appear before a disciplinary committee.

Mr James Mathonsi from the commission said they suspended Manyelenyele on July 12, the day he failed to appear before the disciplinary hearing. Although he received a letter that informed him to avail himself to the provincial committee in Thohoyandou, Manyelenyele did not pitch up to face the committee, who wanted to ask him about his failure to meet the weight limit on three occasions and his failure to respond to the questions given to him on June 8.

Mathonsi said the commission was also concerned about the behaviour of Manyelenyele, whose career they tried to save several times, without success. "We suspended Manyelenyele three weeks ago, after he failed to pitch up before the DC. He is a good boxer and as a province and a commission, we would like to see him active in the sport. Our wish is that he gets his act together. He needs to decide what he wants to do with his career," said Mathonsi.

Manyelenyle, a junior middleweight, who is rated number four in the South African ratings, first failed to meet the weight limit when he was fighting against Livingstone Khoza for the provincial title in Giyani last year. He then fought against William Gare for the national title, where he was defeated. Early this year, Manyelenyele again faced Michael Baloyi for the provincial title, where he could not be crowned, because he was overweight.

His second meeting with Baloyi, scheduled for June 7, for the same title, was cancelled because he had not reached the weight limit.

The commission met Manyelenyele on June 8, where he pledged that he would write a letter explaining his problems to them. He also had an option of telling the commission if he still wanted to move to higher division. However, Manyelenyele did not write that letter.

His fight against Baloyi, which was scheduled for July 26 in Giyani for the provincial title again, was cancelled after he was suspended on June 12, the day he failed to appear before the DC. "We tried everything possible to save this guy's career. We are delaying the provincial title because of him. Right now is up to him to decide about his career. Otherwise, he is a good boxer. We are concerned about his career," said Mathonsi. However, Manyelenyele said the decision taken against him was unfair. He said the letter given to him did not state that he was going to face the DC. He also added that he was not informed about his suspension until he was told that his fight against Baloyi had been cancelled because he had been suspended.

Manyelenyele said he was informed that the commission had suspended him because he had agreed to fight in Thailand, in a fight organised by Gerald Botes. Although he admits Botes approached him through the promoter, Hendrcik Nengwekhulu, Manyelenyele says he did not agree to fight in Thailand, because he knew the commission is against boxers fighting in Thailand.

Manyelenyele said he had already submitted a letter of appeal to Boxing South Africa last week.

Another person who has been suspended by the provincial commission, is Ephrain Simba, the only matchmaker in the province. Mathonsi said they had suspended Simba, in order to protect the promoter, Nengwekhulu of Tshiawelo Boxing Promotions, because he (Simba) was signing boxers who were not fit, or overweight.