Orlando Pirates Football Club has secured a court order to freeze over R20.2 million across four bank accounts linked to its former finance manager, Darryl Brook Joselowsky. The interim order, granted by the Johannesburg High Court on September 22, aims to preserve the funds while an investigation into allegedly unauthorised or suspicious payments continues. The club's application was brought after a probe uncovered approximately R43 million in suspicious payments spanning a decade.
The investigation, which gathered momentum in July, identified approximately 742 questionable payments between 2016 and 2026. Internal forensic reviews revealed that the transactions allegedly involved fictitious supplier descriptions and bypassed secondary authorisation controls. Commercial manager Mpumelelo Khoza noticed discrepancies while reviewing the group’s management accounts, prompting closer scrutiny of bank statements.
The court order also compels Standard Bank to provide detailed electronic and physical bank statements, including beneficiary identities and account information for outgoing transfers. The club's founding affidavit states that payment references on bank statements reflected descriptions corresponding to legitimate supplier or rental expenses, but the associated monetary figures did not tally with actual or expected supplier payments.
Joselowsky, who served as the club’s finance manager for 30 years, and Standard Bank were cited as respondents in the application. The club's spokesperson, Thandi Morafe, stressed that the proceedings are a precautionary measure intended to safeguard funds during an active investigation. The club emphasised that the legal action should not be interpreted as a finding of guilt against Joselowsky or any other party.
The investigation into suspicious payments at Orlando Pirates Football Club continues, with the court order seeking to preserve the funds and require the bank to disclose information that could help establish where the money went and who received it. However, the order is not a final determination of fraud, liability or wrongdoing. The respondents may approach the court to seek to have the relief set aside or varied.
Morafe confirmed that the club’s day-to-day business, operations and commitments to sponsors continue as normal. The club's operations have not been disrupted by the investigation and court order. The order was granted by the Johannesburg High Court on September 22.
The club's actions aim to protect its assets and ensure accountability during the investigation. Key aspects of the case include the alleged suspicious payments, the court order to freeze accounts, and the club's commitment to its operations and sponsors.
Key points
- The court order freezes over R20.2 million in bank accounts linked to former finance manager Darryl Brook Joselowsky.
- The investigation uncovered approximately R43 million in allegedly unauthorised or suspicious payments spanning a decade.
- The court order requires Standard Bank to disclose detailed bank statements and beneficiary information.
