Siwelele face High Court battle over sponsorship deal dispute

At the centre of the matter is a claim by Flash Sponsorship, which argues the club has failed to honour obligations tied to a multi-million rand deal with Jonsson Workwear, initially concluded with SuperSport United in 2022. 

The company is seeking R842 700 from Siwelele, who assumed control of the Tshwane-based franchise in July last year, along with interest and legal costs.  

Flash Sponsorship is also asking the court to declare the agreement valid and binding. 

Court papers, including a notice of motion and supporting affidavits filed earlier this month – which has been seen by the public broadcaster, allege that Siwelele have continued to benefit from the sponsorship without settling the agreed commission. 

As part of its evidence, Flash Sponsorship cites WhatsApp correspondence in which a club official suggests a new agreement had been reached with Jonsson Workwear that would exclude commission payments – a position the applicant disputes. 

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According to the documents, the original sponsorship agreement was valued at approximately R36 million over four years, with a 10 percent commission structure in place when the deal was signed off.

SuperSport are said to have honoured these terms prior to the change in ownership. However, Flash Sponsorship claims the situation shifted following Siwelele’s takeover, with payments for the 2025/26 season, structured in instalments of R280 900 and due between October and April, allegedly still unpaid. 

Efforts to recover the outstanding amount, including interest, have yielded little success, with correspondence cited in the affidavits suggesting the club does not intend to ever settle the debt.  

The case now places the spotlight on contractual accountability in South African football, particularly around sponsorship and commercial rights agreements, as the High Court is asked to determine whether Siwelele are in breach.  

Meanwhile, SuperSport International, the former club owners, are cited as an interested party given their role in the original agreement with Jonsson Workwear, although they are not the primary target of the claim in this case.