A BOXING museum is to be built in Mdantsane, contributing to the arts, culture and recreation facilities in the township.

Plans to open the museum in the Mdantsane central business district were inspired by the fact that Mdantsane was a mecca of boxing, with many boxing champions hailing from the township.

The museum will collect, document and conserve boxing material relating to the overall history of boxing in Eastern Cape Province. The information collected will be communicated through exhibitions and publications.

Artefacts collected from the broader boxing fraternity will be found in the museum, including photographs, videos, magazines and boxing equipment. These artefacts are expected to be loaned, donated or bought.

The acting chief operating officer of Buffalo City, Andile Mshumpela, said the municipality would call upon legendary boxers from the township to donate to and loan some of their treasured clothing, artefacts and equipment to the museum. In its time, Mdantsane has produced top-class boxers such as Vuyani Bungu, Nkosana Happyboy Mgxaji, Welcome Ncita and Nkosinathi Joyi.

In her State of the City address on 10 June, Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku promised to rejuvenate the Mdantsane CBD with various facilities, including in the retail, entertainment, accommodation, sports and recreation sectors. "As a mecca of boxing, Mdantsane will also be provided with a boxing museum. The plans and designs for these projects will be developed through the Technical Assistance Grant," she said.

She explained that the City had received funding of R128-million from the National Treasury through the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant for these facilities in the township. Already, it was in negotiations regarding the grant for a R20-million allocation on the boxing museum project.

Confirming plans for the museum, the Buffalo City spokesperson, Samkelo Ngwenya, said: "The City is expecting to finalise the plans for the museum and the construction of the structure is anticipated to commence by the end of the 2010/11 financial year."

A library and a lounge were also envisioned for the museum.

According to the operations manager of the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme, Mamoeketsi Khetsi, the museum would contribute to the revival of boxing in Mdantsane, which would help cut the large consumption of alcohol and drugs among young people.

Khetsi confirmed that local active and former boxers would be involved during the implementation of the project, as part of the research and operational phases.

"The museum will bring economic opportunities for the local community by providing temporary and permanent jobs during the construction and operational phases, respectively."