Boxing

The Eastern Cape has long been a boxing stronghold in South Africa.

Mdantsane township outside East London has alone produced a number of world champions, including Zolani Tete, Welcome Ncita, Vuyani Bungu and Hawk Makepule.

The University of Fort Hare harnesses this proud boxing tradition at its Alice and East London campuses.

Each year it has anywhere between 30 and 40 male and female fighters on its books.

Such is the strength and depth of the club that it is almost a given that Fort Hare pugilists will annually feature in provincial and national teams.

The university won four gold, five silver and three bronze medals across various divisions at the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament in 2023.

Sakhe Tyam has proved a revelation in the men’s 75kg weight class. He won the provincial championships two years in-a-row and boasts a national title.

Fort Hare’s women have also packed a punch on the national and international stage.

Asemahle Sotwili became South African champion in 2024, while perennial USSA champ Vuyolwethu Dila possesses a treasure trove of metalware. These include a podium at the World Student Boxing Championships in Turkey and a runner-up spot at the Mandela African Boxing Cup.

This contact sport is popular among the region’s young people as it offers them a chance to redefine their future after growing up in communities where social ills are often prevalent.

The discipline and self-belief required to perform in the ring spills over to other areas of their life – and that is technically already a knockout for our student-athletes.