PSL outfit Marumo Gallants have launched a fresh application before the Joburg High Court seeking an order to interdict the National Soccer League (NSL) from deducting money from its monthly grant to pay former Moroka Swallows player Andile Jali and its ex head coach Musa Nyatama.
The club wants the application to be heard urgently on August 25 ( tomorrow), the same day it expects the NSL to deduct from its grant the amounts awarded to Jali and Nyatama by the NSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC).
The fresh application comes after Gallants’ previous urgent application was dismissed after the high court found that the club lacked locus standi because it had been instituted by the club’s general manager, Lucky Mokgotho.
Gallants have now returned to court with the new application brought by its sole director and shareholder, Charmaine Sello, who says she is authorised to institute the proceedings on behalf of the club, affectionately known as Bahlabane ba ntwa.
According to Sello’s founding affidavit, the previous application was heard on July 7, with the court reserving judgment on whether Gallants had the necessary standing to bring the matter.
Judgment was delivered on July 23, with the court finding that Gallants lacked locus standi.
Sello says the judgment was brought to the club’s attention on July 24, after which she consulted with its legal representatives and instructed them to prepare a fresh application.
Gallants is seeking an interim interdict preventing the NSL from enforcing awards made by the NSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) in favour of Jali and Nyatama pending the finalisation of a review application before the high court and appeal proceedings at SAFA arbitration.
The club argues that the awards should not be enforced because they have been appealed.
They cite Article 24.4 of the NSL Handbook, which states that an appeal against an order of the DRC suspends the operation of that order pending the finalisation of the appeal or arbitration.
The dispute stems from the sale and transfer of the Moroka Swallows Premiership franchise to Gallants in June 2024.
Jali and Nyatama were previously employed by Swallows as a player and coach respectively.
Jali’s contract was terminated after he was found guilty of gross misconduct by an independent disciplinary committee in January 2024, months before the Swallows franchise was sold to Gallants.
He later referred an unfair-dismissal dispute to the DRC, seeking damages for the remainder of his contract as well as payment relating to image rights.
The DRC dismissed his claim for damages for the remainder of his contract but granted an award relating to the image rights.
Gallants appealed the decision to SAFA arbitration.
Nyatama’s employment contract as a coach was transferred to Gallants following the sale of the Swallows franchise.
A dispute later arose between Nyatama and Gallants, resulting in the DRC making an award in his favour.
Gallants also appealed that award to SAFA arbitration.
However, the club says both appeals remained pending for more than a year before the SAFA CEO issued letters in February 2026 purporting to dismiss the appeals without giving Gallants an opportunity to be heard.
Gallants subsequently launched a review application in the high court challenging the SAFA CEO’s decisions.
The latest court application follows a June 11 letter from the NSL directing Gallants to pay the amounts awarded to Jali and Nyatama, failing which the money would be deducted from its monthly grant.
Gallants argue that the proposed deductions are premature because the arbitration tribunal has not yet been established and no arbitration award has been issued.
“The league is therefore not entitled to deduct the applicant’s monthly grant until an award is made,” the club states in its founding affidavit.
The club says it will suffer severe financial prejudice if the deduction goes ahead, putting the amount at approximately R6.2 million.
It says the monthly grant is used to pay salaries and other operational expenses and that losing the money would cause serious financial harm.
Gallants further argue that they may not be able to recover the money if they ultimately succeeds in their arbitration or review proceedings, claiming that Jali and Nyatama could have exhausted the funds by then.
The club is therefore asking the court to hear the matter urgently on August 25 and to stop the NSL from deducting the disputed amounts until the review and arbitration processes have been finalised.
