Three men, Messrs Mike Nkuna, Tirhani Mabunda and Hebert Theledi claimed that they were co-owners of the team. On the other hand, the managing director of the team, Mr Pat Malabela, insisted that he was the sole owner of the team and that there was no truth in the claims made by the three men.
Realizing that Malabela was not prepared to compromise, the three men decided to take the legal route. The matter was postponed several times in a Johannesburg court and was finally tabled for 22 March. The case was not heard after the legal representatives for the two parties agreed that settling the matter out of court would benefit the club and the good name of the game.
Not only Malabela and the plaintiffs were reluctant to comment on the issue, but even their attorneys were tight-lipped on the matter, saying that all they could say was that the matter has been settled amicably. In the statement that was released this week, the Premier Soccer League has confirmed that they had received a copy of the settlement agreement regarding the partnership dispute as to the ownership of Dynamos FC.
According to the statement, Malabela will forfeit the R350 000 monthly grant from the PSL to the plaintiffs until the whole amount has been paid up. In the statement the PSL has indicated that the partnership dispute was undoubtedly hindering the development of the club from a financial perspective.
“The PSL is happy that the long-running dispute has been resolved as it has undoubtedly hindered the development of Dynamos FC from a financial perspective. And now that it has been put to rest, Dynamos can go into the market place with renewed confidence,” reads an extract from the PSL statement.