Ex-Pirates star Patrick Phungwayo opens up on being ‘wrongfully’ arrested
Former Orlando Pirates defender Patrick Phungwayo has opened up on how a side business he started after retiring unexpectedly resulted in his “wrongful” arrest in 2021.
His Buccaneers years, from 2012 to 2017, were pivotal in establishing his name in South African football. Thereafter, he had a two-year stint with the now-defunct Free State Stars before he disappeared from the game.
Phungwayo initially planned to take a one-year break to focus on his “spiritual journey.” However, he did not return to the field.
As he transitioned to life after football, he revealed that he used his house’s large yard to establish a car parking rental business.
Phungwayo says that one day, a particular car was parked in his yard, like many others. But, in a surprising turn of events, this vehicle turned out to be linked to criminal activity, with firearms discovered inside.
The 37-year-old said he was the first to be arrested as the property owner, even though he was unaware of any wrongdoing connected to the car.
PHUNGWAYO TELLS THE STORY OF HOW HE ENDED UP IN JAIL
“Me being arrested, I always say until I speak my piece and people will then understand and see it from a different angle than when people just write that I’m a criminal when they don’t even…or haven’t called to even ask me what happened,” said Phungwayo during the exclusive interview with FARPost.
“I’ll give you a brief, so that you know. I have a huge house. And my yard is so big that after football, of course, you’re not making a salary and I have people that will to say, ‘can I park my truck?’ or whatever because my yard is so big that it can accommodate over 50 cars.
“And I took it as a side business that thing until that tragedy happened that there was an Audi car that was in my yard that had guns and that was stolen. That’s how I got arrested. [Although] I didn’t [know anything about it].
‘I WOULDN’T SAY NO TO MONEY’
“You must understand our black culture has a gentlemen’s agreement, doesn’t have a contract. If somebody refers to you, ‘I park my car at Phungwayo’s’ and you also say, ‘Can I also park?’ I wouldn’t say no to money.
“Remember, I’ve got kids, you know, and if you’re paying me rent, just park and get your car in the morning. No questions asked. My yard is that big that I won’t even see you when you come in.
“So that’s what happened. And unfortunately, that day when the car got back into my yard, police were following those people. And because I was the owner, that’s how I was arrested. Because you are the owner of the property, you have to be arrested.
“And of course, I think people misinterpret the fact that this was not my first time I was in the newspapers for a gun. So I think that’s why people, they connect things to say, yeah, no, it’s guaranteed. There’s no smoke without fire, which I understand and I respect people’s opinion.
“But I always say, until you talk to me, until you hear my story, until you understand. Maybe then you’ll understand. But yeah, those are one of my lows, being named a bad boy when I’m not.”
Further, Phungwayo disclosed that the owner of the car unexpectedly passed away the week after his arrest, which he described as “the sad part of his story”.
He explained that he spent three years attending court hearings before they ultimately decided there was “nothing to charge him with”.
PHUNGWAYO EXPLAINS HOW THE CASE ENDED
“I think that I attended the court for three years. And they’ve been saying they were ready trial again and again. But unfortunately, the sad part of my story is that the person [owner of the car] died the following week when I was arrested. When I came out from prison he died,” the 2010 Nedbank Cup Most Promising Player award winner added.
“But the police knew because when I told them, they were like, but you didn’t know he’s a thug, I’m like, ‘No’.
“If you just parked the car and you come in the morning, I ask no questions as long as you pay at the end of the month. That’s what happened.
“But I then attended the court until they decided to say, ‘No there’s nothing to charge you with’.”
Phungwayo recently joined Gomora United to serve as the assistant coach to Johnny Ferreira in the ABC Motsepe League.
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