The court battle by aggrieved clubs over the legitimacy of the SAFA ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs has been postponed to next month.
The national playoffs took place in Pretoria earlier this month, with only seven clubs participating, instead of the usual nine. This was due to the outstanding cases, including representatives from Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
During the playoffs, SAFA faced a legal challenge from Sinenkani FC of the Eastern Cape, who wanted the playoffs to be postponed. Despite the court order, which the club says was granted for the games to be stopped, SAFA went ahead with the playoffs.
Gomora United [Gauteng], The Bees [Mpumalanga] and Midlands Wanderers [KZN] were the three teams promoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The three clubs have also been inducted by the Premier Soccer League ahead of the 2025/26 season.
However, Sinenkani FC are going ahead with their court battle and want the playoffs to be declared null and void. They are also joined by FC Ravens, who were the initial champions of Eastern Cape.
SAFA ABC MOTSEPE LEAGUE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS MATTER GOES TO COURT
The two clubs, through their legal representatives, appeared before the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape. But the matter has since been postponed to 5 and 6 August 2025, a few days before the National First Division season commences.
Sinenkani’s legal representative, Sinawo Makangela, has made it clear that they want to nullify the playoffs because SAFA defied a court order.
“Remember we have a court order that interdicts the playoffs semi-finals and the finals,” Makangela told Khiwa’s Media TV.
“Two things that we will be serving on the day are the issue of contempt. SAFA respondents were in contempt of that order. We want to nullify all those games because they were played against the backdrop of the court order.
“You can’t find it anywhere in our law. So we just want everyone to be included. You can’t have players playing throughout the season with the hope of making it to the next level only for someone to sit there to exclude them.”
WILL CLUBS SETTLE THEIR DISPUTES OUTSIDE COURT TO AVOID DELAYS?
Meanwhile, a SAFA legal representative, Menzi Vilakaz, has admitted that the matter might have to be settled outside court.
“It becomes a bit tricky. The only destination could be reached by a way of parties being able to reach a resolution, excluding the court,” said Vilakazi on Khiwa’s Media TV.
“The judge did say that the matter is big and urgent. So, given the 5th and 6th, we are hoping that there might be a judgment issued in a day or two.”
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