South Africa and the World of Sport is in mourning, following the death of three times, two weight division boxing champion Dingaan Thobela,  aged just fifty seven.

The man who with his triumphs, stopped traffic nationwide and was the epicenter of celebrations in the townships, was found in his apartment in the Mayfair area of Johannesburg by friends and relatives.  He had been in poor health for some time.

Known, famed, respected,  admired and loved as: ”The Rose of Soweto,” Dingaan was born in its Chiawelo district, grew up there in poverty, but under the watchful eye of his Grandma, as he was the apple of her eye.  As the saying goes: ”A person is a person, because of another person.” Following a very creditable amateur career,  Dingaan turned pro and built a fabulous career spanning 1986 to 2006.  Dingaan won the WBO lightweight crown and then the WBA version on his second attempt.  The first time he contested it, he lost on a hotly disputed decision. Undeterred, he persisted until he triumphed. So typical of the man.

Unable to make the weight any more Dingaan`s career languished and went into the doldrums.  The only person who was undaunted and refused to be downcast, give up and retire, was the man himself.  He believed!  As the song make famous by Vanessa Williams song says: ”Save The Best To Last.”  In 2000, Dingaan won the WBC super-middleweight crown from Britain`s Glen Catley with a twelfth round KO.  A glorious turnup for the books and a remarkable comeback from the man who`d been written off, but steadfastly refused to be counted out,  and so… he immortalized himself in letters of Green and Gold!

When a person dies before their time, there are those who say, what if, or if only?   Fifty seven is far too young to leave this world. But the impact that this extraordinary man made will never be forgotten.  People longingly ponder what if Mozart had lived another twenty years, or how much more music the world would have enjoyed from John Lennon, if he hadn`t been assassinated.  But they miss the point, and selfishly so.  As the Lennon and McCartney lyric asks: ”Is it for them or myself that I cry!?”   Rather,  we should be eternally grateful for the legacy they left us,  through the gifts of their genius. Their time was limited but how brilliantly they used it,  to provide us a bird in the hand, which is worth appreciably more than two in the bush.

By its nature, boxing doesn`t that often hold extended  longevity viz the reign of its champions, who are young men and women in the prime of life. But the level of competition is unrelentingly fierce as well as exacting.   Their  pinnacle triumphs are all too brief and fleeting.  To have reached this level in two weight categories, so widely dispersed,  was and forever will be the remarkable achievement of Dingaan Thobela.

If he had lived longer, perhaps he might have been able to onpass via coaching, the subtleties and guile that a champion possesses. The adroit rapier like feint, belying, disguising and camouflaging the KO blow to follow. The swivel of the hip to change direction, the shoulder roll, the leaning back into the ropes and then catapulting out from them.  Throwing the short precise punch Archie Moore style,  which only travels six inches,  but lands right on the button. All of this and so much more.  A treasure chest accumulation.

The legacy Dingaan Thobela left,  was that of inspiration for the generations to come. The South African saying is: ”Once you find your first diamond, you never give up looking.”

A skinny boy from Soweto bestrode the world three times like a lion, in two weight categories.  So,  with talent, determination and sheer grit, it is possible from a humble crib to transform dreams into glory. He proved this!  Another famous saying  goes: ”You cannot beat a drum with one finger. Give every task the magnitude it deserves if you want to get the desired results.”

The entire World Boxing Council Family and our President Mauricio Sulaiman Saldivar, send our deepest condolences to the family and so many friends of Dingaan Thobela, who made his country and all of us, so very proud of him.

The word Bongani means Grateful Thanks.  We owe him this…and so much more.

Goodbye Dear Friend.  Rest in Peace.