Tribute to Jack of many trades

Collectors of sports books have a million stories to tell and re-tell, give or take a few dozen.

This is one.

Among the treasured editions in my collection of boxing books is one titled The Noble Art – An Anthology, compiled by T.B. Shepherd.

It was signed and given to me by Jack Botha in May 1991.

It had been given to Jack by one of the masters of SA sports writing, Paul Irwin. On the inside Irwin wrote: Xmas 1950. For my pal, Jack. From Paul Irwin.

The story that goes with the book is about a fascinating character who died at Prince Albert in the Western Cape at the age of 98 not so long ago.

Jack Botha was, among many things, a sportswriter who boxed as professional in the 1940s.

He also studied theology, became an outstanding rock climber, worked on the docks and as a policeman, had a spell in a dynamite factory, became one of the best-known reporters in and around Johannesburg and befriended some of the leading SA sports heroes.

Jack was born on February 15, 1913 on a farm near Schweizer-Reneke in what was then Western Transvaal. His parents later moved to Port Elizabeth where he attended Grey High School.

He took up boxing as a youngster and later won an SA Police title. In later years he formed his own club and trained amateurs.

As a professional welterweight Jack fought SA champions Alf James and Don Carr in non-title fights as well as Willie Miller and Ginger Claasens.

He also studied theology at Stellenbosch University but packed it in because of a lack of money during the Great Depression, when he worked on the East London docks as a labourer.

In 1934 he joined the SA Mounted Police. Four years later he joined the staff at the Modderfontein dynamite factory east of Johannesburg.

At the same time he began working as a part-time sports reporter for the Sunday Times, Sunday Express and Rand Daily Mail.

As a former fighter and boxing fan his most memorable experience as a journalist was being at ringside the night Vic Toweel beat Manuel Ortiz to win the world bantamweight title on May 31, 1950.

Toweel is still the only South African recognised as a universal champion.

Botha also reported on rugby and golf in the days of players such as Okey Geffin, Hennie Muller, Basie van Wyk, Wilf Rosenberg, Bobby Locke and Gary Player.

He also loved cricket and wrote about Springboks such as John Waite, Hugh Tayfield, Colin Bland and Ali Bacher.

During his 61 years of reporting he also covered swimming, squash, athletics and many other sports.

An enthusiastic and highly rated rock climber, he climbed Champagne Castle in the Drakensberg when he was 80 years old.

It was a joy and a privilege to work with Jack Botha, and to listen to him talk about sport, particularly boxing.