Nika Kumalo is back.
While the mention of his name might send shivers to many of his opponents during his boxing days, this time he is back to uplift the community that supported him as a boxer and a businessman.
Kumalo, a former South African boxer who fought in the 1990s, is set to open a training centre in Khayelitsha. The Gender-Based Violence Therapy Gym (GBVTG) is expected to open on Wednesday 20 April. Kumalo described the facility as a safe space for the community.
The facility will be run from a shipping container close to the Khayelitsha Mall.
“We have various programmes in the centre. There’s boxing training and GBV programmes. Currently, we are busy recruiting 20 patrollers who will volunteer patrolling the shopping centres in Khayelitsha,” said Kumalo. He described GBV as a pandemic that is destroying communities.
Kumalo stated that the facility is targeted at women and young children. “Our boxing gym will start operating at 05:00 until 09:00. From 09:00 till 17:00 there will be GBV programmes where we accommodate only women and young children. And from 17:00 till 21:00 there will be a boxing gym again,” he stated.
He said adding that their aim is to equip people with skills and empower them to survive in difficult times.
“We know that women and children are the most vulnerable in our societies. We also train them self-defence, self-control, motivate them to revive their self-esteem and train fitness,” he said, adding that the programme takes the duration of three months.
Kumalo said as part of GBV programmes they will have motivational speakers, and train them in yoga and boxing. He ensures that they will work closely with social worker sand other relevant stakeholders.
“We have a partnership with Sonke Gender Justice organisation and local primary schools and police ,” he stated, adding that most children that will be attending their programmes are from local primary schools every Monday to Friday.