Times Of Swaziland: IN MARATHON RELEGATION CASE: JIMOH CALLS FOR JUDGE RECUSAL

IN MARATHON RELEGATION CASE: JIMOH CALLS FOR JUDGE RECUSAL
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Machawe Fakudze on 19/09/2024 07:58:00


MBABANE – The wait continues.
This is the story of the much-anticipated marathon relegation case between hub
giants Manzini Wanderers and Denver Sundowns, which was supposed to be heard
yesterday at the High Court, before Judge Bonginkosi Magagula. The case started
when Wanderers lodged a protest over Sundowns Skipper Jimoh Moses in their MTN
Premier League relegation six-pointer, which was played at the Somhlolo National
Stadium, in May. The game finished 4-2 in favour of Ikappa Kappa. Both teams
were hauled before the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Disciplinary
Committee (DC), which ruled in favour of Sundowns. The ruling by the Thulani
Sibandze-chaired committee did not sit well with Wanderers and they took it to
the EFA’s Appeals Board, which also dismissed the case.
The Mlamuli ‘Mlaba’ Nkambule-captained side was then forced to run to the
High Court of Eswatini seeking its intervention in the matter.  At the High
Court, they successfully stopped the deliberation of the relegation item during
the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was
held at the Sigwaca House. They were granted their wish, but the protest matter
was expected to be heard yesterday. It was, however, postponed as Moses’s
Legal Representatives LN Dlamini and Associates wanted Judge Magagula to recuse
himself from the matter on allegations that he has close ties with Wanderers.
The matter was scheduled to take place at 9:30am, but after LN Dlamini and
Associates highlighted their concern, they met with the judge and Wanderers
representatives in the chambers to deliberate on the recusal of Judge Magagula
from the case. “The matter, has been postponed to Friday (tomorrow, as we feel
that the judge should recuse himself from the matter. We were told that he was a
friend with one of Wanderers directors,” Advocate Lucas Maziya from LN Dlamini
and Associates explained.
He said the judge then requested them to file a formal application with written
proof that indeed he was a friend of the said director. Maziya also disclosed
that they would file the application today and confirmed that the matter was
postponed to tomorrow at the High Court at 9:30am. Meanwhile, the ‘Weslians’
Legal Representative, Charlie ‘Minga’ Jele, also confirmed that the matter
was postponed due to the fact that the other party wants the judge to recuse
himself, on the allegations that he is close to Wanderers.  This means that
Wanderers’ fate remains undecided. Both leagues enter week two from tomorrow.
The Premier League has kicked off with the normal 14 teams.