Ace Ncobo has left his position as a football analyst on SuperSport’s Extra Time after 13 years of being a mainstay on South African football screens.
This comes after the general manager of the Premier Soccer League and his wife, Salomie Twaise Ncobo, appeared at the Bellville magistrate’s court in the Western Cape on Monday.
They are charged with three counts of money laundering and fraud in connection with an R15-million donation for Eastern Cape school construction projects.
Known for his insightful analysis of refereeing decisions, Ncobo sent a heartfelt message to the show’s devoted audience announcing his resignation.
Innocent until proven guilty
Ncobo, a former Fifa referee, insists that he is innocent. He emphasised the importance of protecting the credibility of both the show and the SuperSport brand.
“The very first thing I did when I stepped out of court was to call my SuperSport football boss and inform him that I will immediately cease to be part of the show,” Ncobo said in his message.
“I do not want my personal circumstances to tarnish the valuable role that the show plays within the football ecosystem.
“Innocent as I know I am, innocent as the constitution of the country so dictates until a competent court finds to the contrary, I thought best to make this decision.”
Ncobo also took stock of his 13-year career on Extra Time, recognising the intense reactions his analysis frequently provoked.
“You loved me when my analysis favoured your club and hated me the very next week when it did not. Through it all, you were educated on the intricacies of refereeing decisions,” he said.
He asked viewers to keep supporting the programme, which has grown to be a mainstay of South African football analysis.
“I will henceforth join the millions of you who watch the show as a viewer too. Please do keep supporting the show.”
Applied fraudulently for PetroSA funds
The couple’s case is related to an R15-million donation that was made in 2008 for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape.
They are alleged to have applied fraudulently for PetroSA funds through a corporate social investment (CSI) programme that supports underprivileged schools.
In one of the projects, PetroSA pledged to rebuild Gangatha Secondary School with a donation of R13-million.
According to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, Ncobo oversaw and managed the construction, which began in November 2008 and was finished in September 2009.
“The school never authorised him to act as its representative or appointed him as a project manager to oversee and manage the construction,” said Ntabazalila.
Later, after claims of fraud and irregularities in the CSI department emerged, PetroSA hired quantity surveyors to evaluate the value of the services provided.
“The inspection revealed that the products used and the services rendered were of inferior quality and did not correspond with the amount of the donations made.
“The costs amounted to R5.9-million inclusive of value-added tax. It was established that it would cost PetroSA a further R398 363 to remedy the defects,” said Ntabazalila.
Case postponed to May 29
The money laundering charge relates to R15.19-million that was allegedly distributed to bank accounts, some of which were registered in his name.
According to Ntabazalila, Gangatha Projects was not a registered entity according to the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission’s records.
“Ace Ncobo Development ILE Projects Close Corporation was registered, and the accused had a 100% interest in it.
“Eseswe Projects and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute were not registered entities,” said Ntabazalila.
Ncobo is out on R50 000, while his wife was released on R30 000 bail. The couple is expected back in court on May 29, and the investigations are continuing.
