Times Of Swaziland: NO JAIL FOR PLE TRIO

NO JAIL FOR PLE TRIO
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Machawe Fakudze on 29/11/2024 09:23:00


MBABANE – Supreme Court Judge Mbutfo Mamba stayed the contempt of court appeal
filed by Manzini Wanderers.
Wanderers are seeking that the Premier League of Eswatini (PLE) trio of the
chairman, acting chief executive officer (CEO) and chief operations officer
(COO) be put behind bars. PLE Chairman is Polycarp Dlamini, while Acting CEO is
Pat Vilakati. The latter used to occupy the vacant post of COO. Wanderers
claimed they failed to execute the September 27, 2024 ruling, which was passed
by Judge Mumcy Dlamini. She ordered that the relegation saga between Wanderers
and Denver Sundowns be reviewed and set aside by the football authorities. She
further concluded that Jimoh Moses was not eligible to play the relegation
six-pointer match, on May 19, 2024, between the two sides. It was won by Sundown
with a 4-2 score.
Contempt
The ‘Weslians’, after the judgment, rushed to court and accused the local
football bodies of failing to execute the order and filed a contempt of court
Order application.  The matter was back in court yesterday before Judge Mamba,
who in his judgment stayed the appeal by Wanderers pending the hearing of the
whole matter. “In summary, the court issues the following Order; the contempt
of Court proceedings before the High Court are hereby stayed pending the
finalisation of the Appeal case,” reads part of the judgment.
Meanwhile, according to one of the maroon and white hub giants legal
representatives SM Jele Attorneys, in a letter addressed to the registrar of the
Supreme Court, acted on behalf Wanderers in the application to deem the appeal
abandoned. “We humbly request that you bring it to the attention of the
honourable chief justice that our client has lodged an application to deem the
respondent’s appeal lodged on September 27, 2024, abandoned,” reads an
extract from the letter. It is worth noting that the PLE, through their
representatives MLK Attorneys, filed an application to stop Judge Dlamini from
proceeding with the contempt of court matter and their prayer has been granted,
which means that the Chairman, CEO and COO are safe from jail time at the
moment.