Young Bafana win court case as drama hits ABC Motsepe League play-offs

The SAFA Western Cape winners were pulled from the tournament after losing an arbitration case last week, but are back in contention for promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship after the ruling was set aside by Judge Janse Van Niewenhuzen at the South Gauteng High Court on Monday morning.

SABC Sport understands the latest judgment is based on arbitration papers not having been served on Young Bafana in the case that was lodged by Zizwe United, where the former is alleged to have used two improperly registered players, namely Siraaj Williams and Sixolisiwe Madolwana.

It was alleged that Williams and Madolwana played without valid clearances in a game that took place on the 29 April, with arbitrator Dr. Tsietsi Ramatsekisa having last week reviewed and set aside SAFA Western Cape’s letter that dismissed Zizwe’s complaint to find Young Bafana guilty. 

Ramatsekisa’s arbitration award also ruled that SAFA national ought to investigate the conduct of SAFA Western Cape chairperson Tankiso Modipa towards the matter.

However, that award has since been set aside and there could be more drama in the next few hours as SAFA legal presentative Lesedi Mphahlele, the Director at Fairbridges Wertheim Becker Attorneys told SABC Sport that Zizwe United are appealing the latest ruling. 

“Firstly, we didn’t oppose the court application by Young Bafana as we felt that this was a matter between the two clubs. The judge did not reveal the reasons for his decision today but has promised to release the full ruling within the next 20 days,” explained Mphahlele.

“We have already received a letter from Zizwe stating that they are appealing against the High Court ruling but the play-offs will go on, unless there’s a court interdict.”

The playoffs are now scheduled to get underway from 6-11 June, with Young Bafana are scheduled to open their promotion bid against Amavarara FC from Eastern Cape at Harry Gwala Stadium.

Both Western Cape teams are now in KwaZulu-Natal, and it remains to be seen how the drama around these playoffs will unfold, given the impending court proceedings.

The two finalists from the nine provincial champions will be promoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship, accompanied by an R3 million cheque for the winners.