Former Marumo Gallants midfielder Andile Jali and coach Musa Nyatama are seeking access to the club's monthly Premier Soccer League grant to pay the money they are owed. The club approached the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, to prevent the National Soccer League from deducting amounts from its monthly grants and paying those amounts to Jali and Nyatama. Marumo Gallants alleged that the grant is required to pay salaries and meet expenses necessary to honour its fixtures.
The club's urgent application was not opposed by the National Soccer League, but Jali and Nyatama opposed it. According to Judge Shanaaz Mia's ruling, Marumo Gallants had not complied with the application process, and the appeal had lapsed. The judge found that the club instituted the review in April but did not seek interim relief and only launched its first urgent interdict application in June.
The review application was dismissed in July because Marumo Gallants had not established the requisite capacity to institute it. After the judgment, the club consulted its attorneys and authorised fresh proceedings in July. Judge Mia found that the enforcement risk remained the risk which the club had been aware of since June and earlier than that date when it became aware of the looming threat of deductions from its grants in February 2026.
Marumo Gallants was ordered by the PSL dispute resolution chamber to pay Nyatama nearly R5.3-million for outstanding salaries. Jali had also claimed compensation for unfair dismissal after his contract was terminated following Marumo Gallants players going on an “illegal strike” in December 2023. The former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates midfielder had demanded to be paid in full and to be reinstated back into the team, but his case was struck off the roll by the DRC.
Marumo Gallants has been involved in several disputes, including with Moroka Swallows, who threatened to cancel the deal due to unpaid debts and alleged breaches of contract. The Dube Birds wanted to have the 2024 contract cancelled that initially allowed Marumo Gallants to take over their top-flight status. Marumo Gallants has rejected the allegations, arguing that outstanding amounts were offset through league grants and that they have met their contractual obligations.
Marumo Gallants' legal representative Leruma Thobejane stated that the matter will return to the high court soon on the normal court roll after the application was struck from the urgent roll for lack of urgency and the club ordered to pay the costs in September. The club would respect the legal process and refrain from further public comment while proceedings continued.
The dispute highlights the financial struggles faced by football clubs in South Africa, with Marumo Gallants allegedly struggling to pay salaries and meet expenses. The case also raises questions about the role of the Premier Soccer League and the National Soccer League in resolving disputes between clubs and former players.
Key points
- Marumo Gallants is seeking to prevent the National Soccer League from deducting amounts from its monthly grants to pay former players Andile Jali and Musa Nyatama.
- The club's urgent application was not opposed by the National Soccer League, but Jali and Nyatama opposed it.
- Marumo Gallants has been involved in several disputes, including with Moroka Swallows, over unpaid debts and alleged breaches of contract.
