The four Safa national executive committee (NEC) members who were recently suspended, together with Simpiwe Mkhangelwa – who is serving a different suspension – have joined forces with former NEC member and legal eagle Vernon Seymour seeking “direct urgent arbitration” in terms of Safa statutes.
Seymour is said to be one of the Safa veterans who is well-versed with the association’s constitution, having been part of the organisation and legal committee previously. According to Seymour, he has delivered a “notice of arbitration” to Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao.
Members Gladwyn White, Monde Montshiwa, Emma Hendricks, Orapeleng Setlhare were served with suspension letters, while Mkhangelwa, has been sidelined since his physical altercation with Safa president Danny Jordaan last year.
At this year’s first NEC meeting, members exchanged heated words before they resorted to screaming and pushing each other, and eventually throwing punches.
At the centre of the dispute was a proposed motion to suspend the four above-mentioned members. After scuffles with security personnel, the meeting was abandoned.
An emergency meeting was organised a week later, and a resolution was taken to suspend the foursome.
The letters served to them, read in part: “It is alleged that as a result of your conduct, you contravened the Safa statutes, communications policy, disciplinary code, and brought the association’s name into disrepute.
“As a result thereof… it is our instruction to transmit your formal notice of suspension from Safa with immediate effect, pending a disciplinary enquiry into the above allegations.
The members and Seymour believe that the unlawful suspensions have been imposed as retaliation for the requestors’ strong stance on corruption, theft and fraud within the Safa – against Jordaan and CFO Gronie Hluyo, who are on trial in the Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court.
Reads part of the declaration dispute which Sunday World has seen: “The unlawful suspensions are used in pursuit of suppression of dissent. In June 2025 a motion to suspend the requestors was defeated.
“The matter was therefore finalised and could not be revived.”
Now, the five are seeking a relief order in the following terms: “that the suspensions are reviewed and set aside and that Safa is directed to ensure that the requestors (including Mkhangelwa) are allowed to resume their activities as Safa NEC members and to participate in all football activities.”
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- Four recently suspended Safa NEC members have teamed up with Simpiwe Mkhangelwa, also under suspension.
- They have joined forces with former NEC member Vernon Seymour.
- Vernon Seymour is noted for his legal expertise.
- The group is seeking direct urgent arbitration based on Safa statutes.
- Further details are available in the Sunday World e-edition.
