First lady boxing referee dies

The boxing fraternity has been plunged into deep mourning following the sudden passing away of the first female boxing ring controller in Limpopo. Livhuwani Maphangule, or Lebo, as she was affectionately known to her fans, passed away on Thursday last week.

Maphangule (48) of Lwamondo outside Thohoyandou started off as a teacher and taught at Pile and Mapate. The boxing bug bit her to such an extent that she left teaching for good after joining the provincial department of Sports, Arts and Culture at Polokwane in 2006.

Soon after news of her death spread, tributes started pouring in. International boxing matchmaker Ephraim Simba, who worked with her for seven years, said the boxing fraternity has been robbed of one of the finest daughters of the country. "We had only three female ring controllers here in the province and they were not even enough, but the passing away of Maphangule leaves us poorer," he said.

Simba said Maphangule made history by becoming the first female judge in national tournaments in 2005. "She has walked her mile and she will be sorely missed; no one can replace her," he said.

Lebo's brother, Avhapfani, said the family had lost a great person in Maphangule. "She was always there for all of us and she will always be remembered by the family," he said.