EAST LONDON - The saga surrounding a prisoner who was allowed to box whilst serving a lengthy jail term took another twist this week when Boxing SA (BSA) ordered his handlers to lodge a formal appeal before their fines can be withdrawn.

BSA had fined Mandlenkosi Jakavu and Luyanda Kana R3000 in May for allowing jailbird Mzukisi Roberts to participate in a professional fight in March without disclosing his status as a prisoner.

Roberts is currently serving a 10-year jail term at the Mdantsane prison for murder.

The pair were ordered to pay R2 000 before the end of August with R1 000 of the fine suspended.

The promoter of the tournament, Welcome Ncita, whose boxer Sabelo Nokhele was beaten by Roberts, escaped with a warning while BSA-Eastern Cape service provider, Phakamile Jacobs was given a R5 000 suspended fine for failing to screen the fighters.

However, Jakavu and Kana, both former political prisoners released in a pardon by President Thabo Mbeki last year, appealed to Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile to intervene in the matter.

Stofile intervened and allegedly ordered BSA to rescind the fine.

BSA chief executive Krish Naidoo admitted to the Daily Dispatch last week that the fine had been scrapped by BSA's appeal panel although Jakavu and Kama had not lodged an appeal.

Naidoo insisted that the reversal of the fine against the duo did not mean BSA erred by charging them in the first place.

"We were right to institute disciplinary action against them, but after reviewing the case we thought perhaps we should grant them amnesty," he said.

However, the Dispatch has reliably learnt that BSA chairman Mthobi Tyamzashe was incensed by Stofile's vetoing of the decision to fine the pair.

Tyamzashe allegedly felt the overturning of the fine could be interpreted as deeming BSA toothless to deal with its transgressors.

Tyamzashe then ordered Naidoo to inform Jakavu and Kana to lodge an official appeal before the fine was to be dropped.

In a letter to the duo, Naidoo threatened to invoke the fine if they did not lodge an appeal.

Part of the letter in the possession of the Dispatch reads: "My advice to you is that you should submit an appeal to Boxing SA in which you set out the reasons why you cannot pay or do not want to pay the fine. If there is any new evidence you wish to bring to the attention of BSA please feel free to do so."

But Kana and Jakavu were adamant that they would not appeal but would instead communicate with Stofile about BSA's letter.

They also insisted that the only charge instituted against them was their failure to disclose the status of the fighter and not allowing him to fight without a license as has been alleged by BSA.

Menzi Nqodi who oversaw the graduation of amateur boxers to professional ranks confirmed that Roberts was among the fighters who passed the test last year.