Sekhukhune United are carrying out their threat to sue fellow Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Chippa United for refusing to apologize and retract a claim that they bribed the referee who officiated the two teams’ 1-all league tie in Limpopo last week.
Sunday World can exclusively reveal that Sekhukhune United’s lawyers, Tshabuse Ramashai Dube Inc, wrote a letter of demand to Chippa United on Monday, ordering them to apologise and retract their claims that they had oiled the hand of Philangenkosi Khumalo, who officiated their match.
They threatened to sue them or report them to the PSL for a disciplinary hearing, among others.
The embrigolio between the two outfits emanated from their league match at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last week. During the match, Khumalo awarded Sekhukhune United, who were a goal behind Chippa United, a penalty, which their top goal scorer, Bradley Grobler, converted to equalize.
Grobler failed to convert a second penalty, which would have allowed Sekhukhune United to win and increase their lead at the top of the log standings.
After the contest, Chippa United filed a complaint with the PSL, asking for investigations into possible bribery against Khumalo, thereby insinuating that Sekhukhune United had greased his palm to win the game.
Chippa United official and Bafana Bafana tactical analyst, Sinesipho Mali, allegedly also hurled a barrage of defamatory epithets at Sekhukhune United mandarins after the game, including that they had bribed Khumalo.
The complaint was leaked to the media, damaging the reputations of Khumalo and Sekhukhune United. Sekhukhune United chief executive officer Jonas Malatji ordered Chippa United to apologise and retract their claim or face the lawsuit, but the Eastern Cape-based outfit gave him the bird.
Their refusal to apologise prompted Babina Noko to unleash their lawyers against Chippa United.
“We act on behalf of Sekhukhune United Football Club and place on record our client’s grave concern regarding statements and insinuations emanating from Chippa United Football Club following the recent fixture between our two clubs,” reads the letter of demand, which Sunday World has seen.
“Our client addressed correspondence to you on 26 September 2025, demanding an immediate retraction and public apology. To date, you have failed to respond or comply.
“This failure is noted with concern and serves only to aggravate the prejudice already caused by your representatives’ conduct, including the unfounded accusations of bribery publicly attributed to Chippa United, reported by SABC Sport and FARPost, and those uttered by Mr Sinesipho Mali in the presence of match officials, media representatives, law enforcement officers, and other witnesses.
“Our client views these allegations as defamatory, damaging, and constituting serious misconduct under PSL and Safa regulations, bringing the game into disrepute.”
The lawyers stated that unless Sekhukhune United received, by no later than 4pm on Wednesday, October 1, a full and public retraction and apology with proof of publication together with a written undertaking that neither Chippa United nor its representatives will repeat or permit the repetition of such allegations; they will proceed without further notice by referring the matter to the PSL for disciplinary proceedings and instituting legal action for defamation, damages, and costs.
“This letter serves as a final demand,” the lawyers wrote.
